Ch.1 Life: Biological Principles and the Science of Zoology

chemical uniqueness
complexity & hierarchical organization
reproduction
possession of genetic program
metabolism
development
environmental interaction
movement

Enumerate the 8 General Properties of Living Systems

chemical uniqueness

• living systems demonstrate a unique and complex molecular organization

• the organizational structure of macromolecules make them unique

complexity & hierarchical organization

• living systems demonstrate a unique and complex hierarchical or

reproduction

• living systems can reproduce themselves

• at each lev

possession of a genetic program

provides fidelity of inheritance

metabolism

• living organisms maintain themselves by acquiring nutrients from their environments

• metabolic processes

• an interaction of destructive (catabolic) and constructive (anabolic) reactions

development

all organisms pass through a characteristic life cycle

environmental interaction

• all animals interact with their environments

• all organisms respond to environemntal stimuli, a property called irritability

movement

living systems and their parts show precise and controlled movements arising form within the system

• guided by natural law

• has to be explained by reference to natural law

• is testable against the observable world

• conclusions are tentative

• falsifiable

Nature of Science