Cells and

Systems
Topic 1 - Living things share certain characteristics and
have structures to perform functions

Unit B Outline
Unit Overview
Topic 3
Topic 1 Structure and Function
of Human Organ
Characteristics Systems
of Living Things

Topic 2
Topic 4
Microscopy
Cells the Basic Unit of Disease Theory
Life Factors affecting
Particle Movement human health
Single and Multi-celled
Organisms
 Topic 1

1.1 1.2 1.3

Characteristics of Living Structure and Function Organs and Organ
Things Systems
1.1 Characteristics of Living
Things oxygen breathing adaptation
to environ brain
reproduce
I can describe the 6 food fenergy respond moranound
characteristics of living things.
Environ

Key Question:

What defines a living organism?

 Six Characteristics of Life

1 2 3
Made up of Cells Need energy Grow and develop

4 5 6
Respond to the reproduce Have adaptations for
environment their environment
 1. All organisms are made of
cells.
The cell:

● Is the basic unit of life

● Performs life processes
● Is microscopic
energy2. All organisms need energy
water
light ●
92 glucose 02
Plants get energy from the sun
(photosynthesis)

● Animals from their environment (cellular

respiration)

02 food water CO2 energy

glucose heat
 3. All organisms respond to the
environment
Stimulus: anything that causes a response

Response: the reaction to the stimulus

Think about it: while crossing a

street, a car speeds toward you. You
jump out of the way.

What is the stimulus? car

What is the response?
jump
 4. All organisms grow and
develop
● Growth includes getting taller, but also
the replacement of tissue like skin cells.

● Development is a drastic change in body

shape
○ Ex: tadpole changing to a frog
 5. All organisms reproduce
All organisms reproduce
● Necessary for the survival of each type of
organism

Think about it:

Do all members of a species need to reproduce
in order for the species to survive?
 6. All organisms adapt to their
thick fur
environment waterproof fur
All organisms adapt to their environment. behavioralwhite fur
● characteristics that allow an organism to instincts dark skin
live in its environment.
strong claws
blubber
Jan
generalist good sense
Structural Adaptations are physical features of an organism that enhance its
survival and reproduction in its environment. These include body parts, coloration,
and specialized structures. Examples include the thick fur of polar bears for
insulation in cold climates, the long neck of giraffes for reaching high leaves, and
eater of smell
the camouflaged skin patterns of chameleons to avoid predators.

Behavioral Adaptations involve actions or behaviors that improve an organism’s

chances of survival. These can be learned or instinctive. Examples include
migration in birds to avoid harsh winters, nocturnal hunting in animals to avoid
daytime heat, and hibernation in bears to conserve energy during food-scarce
Discuss: What sort of adaptations do
months. polar bears have?
 ● *Sharing Canadian Indigenous perspectives is not intended to contradict different
worldviews, but to demonstrate that all perspectives must be respected

Indigenous In your breakout groups, discuss the following AFTER reading the excerpt:

connections 1. What are things that are considered non-living to biology but have qualities that you
think represent life?

2. Summarize two of the most important points from this reading

Great video - it even has Cool video - sometimes a
a quiz at the end to test little more complicated
your understanding language, but still great!
 1.1 Key Vocabulary
● Organism
● Stimulus
● Response
O
● Adaptation
● Cell
1.2 Structures and Functions
I can explain how living things have different functions for similar structures.

take out
84
Key Questions:
your B
What is a structure?

What is a function?
unit
noted
 breathe
carry things
they
hold
water
What is a What is a
structure? function?
Body parts to do a specific task The specific tasks being
performed.
 Structure and Function
Many organisms do the same thing but
have different ways to get it done.

shark fin tail

Example: Movement

Humans - Legs (walking) cartilage liver

Gibbons - Arms (swinging)
 Structure and Function
Many organisms do the same thing but
have different ways to get it done.

Example: Gathering Food

Barnacles - Tentacles

Birds - Bills

Humans - Hands
 Structure and Function
Many organisms do the same thing but
have different ways to get it done.

Example: Chewing Food

Lion - sharp teeth (shred and tear)

Anteater - uses tongue to grind bugs (no teeth)

 Structure and Function
Many organisms do the same thing but
have different ways to get it done.

Example: Breathing Structures

Fish - Gills

Humans - Lungs

Trees - Leaves

Caterpillars - Spiracles
Variation in Structure
There may be slight differences in structures for
similar organisms in order to do specific tasks.

nuts
Example: Galapagos Islands - Darwin found there
were different bill sizes and shapes on the finches.

Darwin theorized that the bill structures had adapted

to a food source over time so the finches could avoid
competition (resource partitioning)
Task 1
Assignment

Please complete the

following (3 parts)

What makes something

alive?
1.3 Organization of Life
I can determine which organs are needed for specific organ systems.

84 take out your

Key Questions:
1 3 utes
How are living structures organized from the simplest to most complex?
 The 'Big Picture' Ecosystems Gr. 7

Chemistry Gr.
9

Cells and
Systems Gr.
Levels of Organization in Living
Things
lung respiratory

T
Living things are organized from the smallest to largest, simplest to most complex.

smallestfire
 sells Cells Speeded
Every human organism begins as a single cell - Many cells are specialized for a function
the fertilized egg that is no bigger than the
period at the end of this sentence. It becomes
two cells, then four, then eight, and so on. As
cells grow and multiply they start to specialize.
For example, some cells develop force and
movement - these are muscle cells, able to
adapt flexibly to stress. Some become skin or
epithelial tissue, some become nervous tissue
and some connective tissue.
 muscle blood blood
myself tissue Tissues tissue

Tissues are groups of identical cells that work

together to do a job - muscle tissue are
composed of muscle cells.

retina retina
cells tissue
 different
Organs tissues working
together
Organs consist of two or more different tissues
that work together to complete a specific
function – the heart has muscle, nerve and
blood tissues working together.
How many organs can you name? Try it.
 Organ Systems
Organ systems are made up of groups of
organs that are interconnected and work
together to complete a specific function.
Change in one part leads to a change in
another part - the digestive system is made up
of a number of interconnected organs.
 largest organ
most Organisms
complex system
Organisms are made up of groups of organ
systems that are interconnected and work
together to complete all life functions of an
organism.
In the notes package, use online textbook:
Unit B, Section 1.3, pages 93-95 to complete the
chart listing the appropriate structures and
functions.
Topic 1 Wrap-up
Task

● Complete 1.3 chart

● Turn in “What makes
something alive”
● Complete topic 1
vocabulary