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Introduction To Life Science

This document summarizes the 7 key characteristics of life: 1) Organization, 2) Metabolism, 3) Growth and development, 4) Homeostasis, 5) Response to stimuli, 6) Reproduction, and 7) Adaptation through evolution. It provides examples for each characteristic and discusses exceptions to the rules, such as viruses. The document also briefly defines science as the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world through systematic methodology and evidence-based inquiry.

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50 views

Introduction To Life Science

This document summarizes the 7 key characteristics of life: 1) Organization, 2) Metabolism, 3) Growth and development, 4) Homeostasis, 5) Response to stimuli, 6) Reproduction, and 7) Adaptation through evolution. It provides examples for each characteristic and discusses exceptions to the rules, such as viruses. The document also briefly defines science as the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural world through systematic methodology and evidence-based inquiry.

Uploaded by

hjkadjfasdfa
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DP Life Science Level 1

Lesson 1 21/11/2020

What is life?

Living things have 7 characteristics of Life :

1. Organization
-have cells are specialized

-have coordinated parts

-a cell as the fundamental unit

Eg. four types of tissue:

Connective tissues, Epithelial tissues, Muscle tissues, Nervous

tissues

Endothelial cell sheet of endothelial cellscapillaries.

Order of organization

1. Atom
The smallest chemical unit of an element, including protons,

neutrons and electrons

2. Molecule Eg. amino acid which is a monomer of a protein


A small group of joined atoms.
3. Organelle
A membrane-bounded structure within a complex cell that has

a specific function.

4. Cell
The fundamental unit of life

5. Tissue
A collection of specialized cells and the substances they secrete

that function in coordinated fashion

6. Organ
A structure consisting of tissues organized to interact to carry

out specific function

7. Organ system
Organs connected physically or chemically that function

together

8. Multicellular organism
A living individual

9. Population
A group of the same type of organism living in the same place

and time
10. Community
All organisms in a given place and time

11. Ecosystem
The living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) environment

(community of life + soil, rock, water, air, etc.)

12. Biosphere
Parts of the planet and its atmosphere where life is possible

Functions and structure are interdependent


Chicken eggs have an oval shape; therefore, they are hard

to break and won’t roll away

King fisher’s beak is sharp so they don’t create splashes

when dipping into the water, making them easier to catch

fish.

We can apply this structure to train design. Trains make less

noise and this also reduces air resistance

2. Metabolism
The sum total of biochemical reactions occurring in an

organism, include:
Anabolism store energy

involves taking simple, raw materials and making them

into more complex and useful substances

Eg. Chaining amino acids into protein

Catabolism break down food


Breaks down molecules into smaller units that are either

oxidized to release energy or used in other anabolic reactions

-Both processes make a specific product such as

enzymes

3. Growth and development


- Grow in size

- Grow in number

-Increase in complexity

- Estimated number of cells in human body 3.72 x 1013

-About 200 types of cells in a human body

4. Homeostasis
Maintenance of a stable internal environment even in a
changing external environment

Why needs homeostasis?

Metabolism requires a relatively narrow set of

conditions to work effectively and keep the body alive.


Eg. Enzymes are specific in temperature. If the conditions

are not suitable, they become denatured.

How does human react to temperature change

(thermoregulation)?

Human body functions best at 37oC


To warm, skeletal muscles shivers and blood vessels

constrict, keeping the blood away from the body periphery.

To cool, sweating puts water onto the skin which evaporates

to take heat with it and dilate blood vessels under the skin

to bring warm blood closer to air.

How do kangaroos stay cool?

-They lick saliva to their forearm to cool themselves.

When the saliva evaporates, their blood is cooled

-They dig away the warmed topsoil to get at the cooler


ground beneath

-They stay at the shade

Homeostasis of Monarch Butterfly?

It maintains homeostasis by migration.

They migrate to warmer places in winter and return in

summer.

5. Response to stimuli / environment


Purposes:

1. Avoid danger, Eg. Reflex

2. Communication

When ants have found food, they leave a positive

chemical on the route to let other ants know.

When they encounter danger, they leave a negative

chemical in the scene to warn other ants.

3. Protection

Acacia Trees secrete cyanogenic poison from the leaves

to protect themselves from giraffes, which eat them.


6. Reproduction
Two kinds:

Asexual reproduction

Binary fission performed by unicellular organisms like

amoeba

Sexual reproduction

Fertilization the fusion of an egg and a sperm to form a


zygote

7. Adaption through evolution


Charles Darwin:

Long-necked giraffes are randomly born and have more

offspring due to their competitive advantage.

Jean Baptiste Lamarck:

Long-necked giraffes evolved as generations of giraffes

stretched their necks to reach higher leaves.

Intelligent design

Living things are created by an intelligent designer like


God or aliens.

Darwin’s theory

 Variations (mutations) arise spontaneously

 Natural selection over generations:

organisms which possess traits better suited to

conditions would have an adaptive advantage and be

more likely to reproduce

Perhaps more to the list

Movement, Genetic materials, Carbon-based

Any exceptions?

-Fulfil all 7 characteristics but not considered a life

- Do not fulfil all 7 characteristics but considered a life

 Mule (hybrid of horse and donkey) cannot reproduce

 Viruses are not cells, cannot reproduce on their own

Life is a self-sustaining chemical system capable of

Darwinian evolution ~NASA


What is science
 Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and

understanding of the natural and social world following a

systematic methodology based on evidence.

 Science is both a body of knowledge and a process

 Science consist of observing the world by watching,

listening, observing and recording. Science is curiosity in

thoughtful action about the world and how it behaves.

Science Inquiry

1. Observe

2. Ask questions

3. Propose a hypothesis

4. Test the hypothesis

5. Check assumptions

6. Iterate

Science is testable and falsifiable

Eg. Astrology cannot be proved right or wrong.

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