Characteristics of Life

  1. Reproduction:

    1. ^^Asexual^^

      1. Pros: fast, less resources, no male needed
      2. Cons: No genetic diversity
    2. ^^Sexual^^

      1. Pros: Genetic Variation
      2. Cons: Slow, more resources needed, mate selection, not many offspring
  2. Growth and development

    1. Growth: increase in the number of cells

    2. Development: changing forms

      1. Infant → toddler → child
  3. Energy processing

    1. ^^Metabolism^^: the sum of all chemical reactions

      1. ^^Catabolic^^: breaking down

        1. Digestion: protein → amino acids
        2. Cellular respiration: 6O2 + C6H12O6 → 6CO2 + H2O
      2. ^^Anabolic^^: building up

        1. Protein synthesis: amino acids → protein
        2. Photosynthesis: 6CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
  4. Regulation

    1. Homeostasis: maintaining internal balance

      1. Temperature
      2. pH
      3. Salinity
  5. Response to stimuli: reacting to surroundings

    1. Using five senses
  6. Adaptation: change over time

    1. Evolution
  7. Organization: being made up of cells

    1. Atoms →

      1. Smallest form of an element
    2. Molecules →

      1. A compound of atoms
    3. ^^Cells^^

      1. ^^Smallest forms of life^^
    4. Tissue →

      1. Groups of cells
    5. Organs →

      1. Groups of tissues
    6. Organ systems →

      1. Groups of organs
    7. ^^Organisms^^ →

      1. All organ systems put together
    8. Populations →

      1. Same species in the same area at the same time
    9. Communities →

      1. Different species interacting in the same environment
    10. Ecosystems →

      1. Species interacting with the environment
    11. Biosphere →

      1. Earth