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Studying Life: Lesson Objectives

This document provides an overview of key concepts in biology. It discusses the characteristics of living things, including that they are made of cells, have DNA, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to stimuli, and evolve over time. It also outlines several big ideas in biology, such as the cellular basis of life, heredity via DNA, how organisms obtain and use matter and energy, and homeostasis. The document notes that biology includes fields like biotechnology, ecology, and molecular biology. It emphasizes that scientists use the metric system and safe laboratory procedures when conducting biological investigations.

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Max Catanzano
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110 views

Studying Life: Lesson Objectives

This document provides an overview of key concepts in biology. It discusses the characteristics of living things, including that they are made of cells, have DNA, grow and develop, reproduce, respond to stimuli, and evolve over time. It also outlines several big ideas in biology, such as the cellular basis of life, heredity via DNA, how organisms obtain and use matter and energy, and homeostasis. The document notes that biology includes fields like biotechnology, ecology, and molecular biology. It emphasizes that scientists use the metric system and safe laboratory procedures when conducting biological investigations.

Uploaded by

Max Catanzano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name Class Date

1.3 Studying Life


Lesson Objectives
List the characteristics of living things.
Identify the central themes of biology.
Explain how life can be studied at different levels.
Discuss the importance of a universal system of measurement.
Lesson Summary
Characteristics of Living Things Biology is the study of life. Living things share
these characteristics: They are made of cells and have a universal genetic code; they obtain
and use materials and energy to grow and develop; they reproduce; they respond to signals in
their environment (stimuli) and maintain a stable internal environment; they change over
time.

Big Ideas in Biology The study of biology revolves around several interlocking big
ideas:
Cellular basis of life. Living things are made of cells.
Information and heredity. Living things are based on a universal genetic code written in
a molecule called DNA.
Matter and energy. Life requires matter that provides raw material, nutrients, and
energy. The combination of chemical reactions through which an organism builds up or
breaks down materials is called metabolism.
Growth, development, and reproduction. All living things reproduce. In sexual
reproduction, cells from two parents unite to form the first cell of a new organism. In
asexual reproduction, a single organism produces offspring identical to itself. Organisms
grow and develop as they mature.
Homeostasis. Living things maintain a relatively stable internal environment.
Evolution. Taken as a group, living things evolve, linked to a common origin.
Structure and function. Each major group of organisms has evolved structures that make
particular functions possible.
Unity and diversity of life. All living things are fundamentally similar at the molecular
level.
Interdependence in nature. All forms of life on Earth are connected into a biosphere—a
living planet.
Science as a way of knowing. Science is not a list of facts but “a way of knowing.”

Fields of Biology Biology includes many overlapping fields that use different tools
to study life. These include biotechnology, global ecology, and molecular biology.
Performing Biological Investigations Most scientists use the metric system as a
way to share quantitative data. They are trained in safe laboratory procedures. To remain safe
when you are doing investigations, the most important rule is to follow your teacher’s
instructions.
8
Name Class Date

Characteristics of Living Things


1. Complete the graphic organizer to show the characteristics living things share.

are made up of basic units called are based on a universal genetic grow, develop, and

Living things

respond to their maintain a stable internal obtain and use materials and

as they mature

2. The genetic molecule common to all living things is .


3. The internal process of enables living things to survive changing
conditions.
4. Living things are capable of responding to different types of .
5. Living things have a long history of change.
6. The continuation of life depends of both and .
7. The combination of chemical reactions that make up an organism’s
help to organize raw materials into living matter.
9
Name Class Date

Big Ideas in Biology


8. Complete the table of Big Ideas in Biology. The first row is filled in for you.

Big Idea Description


Cellular basis of life Living things are made of cells.

Information and heredity

Life requires matter that provides raw materials,


nutrients, and energy.

Growth, development, and reproduction

Living things maintain a relatively stable internal


environment.

Evolution

Each major group of organisms has evolved


structures that make particular functions
possible.

All living things are fundamentally similar at the


molecular level.

All forms of life on Earth are connected into a


biosphere—a living planet.

Science as a way of knowing

9. Pick two of the big ideas from the chart and describe how the ideas interlock.
10
Name Class Date

Fields of Biology
10. Biology is made up of many overlapping fields, each of which uses different tools to
gather information about living things. Fill out the table below with information about
two fields of biology—one that appeals to you, and one that does not. Include a
description of each field and the tools scientists in the field use, as well as your
impressions of each.

Field of Description of Field Why It Does or Does Not


Biology Appeal to Me

Performing Biological Investigations


11. Describe the system of measurement most scientists use when collecting data and doing
experiments.

12. Why do scientists need a common system of measurement?

13. What is the most important safety rule for you to follow in the laboratory?

Apply the Big idea 14. Your teacher is doing a long-term experiment by having
you and your classmates grow plants at home. You are
testing the hypothesis that plant growth is affected by the amount of water a plant
receives. All the data will be compiled in three weeks. Why isn’t it a good idea to use the
8-ounce measuring cup from your kitchen or the 12-inch ruler you have on your desk?

11

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