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Questions and Answers

What is organization in the context of living things?

The high degree of order within an organism's internal and external parts and in its interactions with the living world.

What does response to stimuli mean?

A physical or chemical change in the internal or external environment that elicits a response from an organism.

Define homeostasis.

The maintenance of stable internal conditions even though environmental conditions are constantly changing.

What is metabolism?

The sum of all the chemical reactions that take in and transform energy and materials from the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does growth and development refer to in living organisms?

All living things grow and increase in size using cell division. Signup and view all the answers

What is reproduction?

Organisms transmit hereditary information to their offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What is evolution?

Populations of living organisms evolve over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is an atom?

A simple particle of an element that retains all the properties of that element. Signup and view all the answers

Define biological molecule.

Chemical compounds that provide physical structure and that bring about movement. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organelle?

A tiny structure that carries out functions necessary for the cell to stay alive. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a unicellular organism?

An organism that is made up of one cell. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a multicellular organism?

An organism that is made up of one or more cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is tissue?

A group of cells that have similar abilities and that allow the organ to function. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organ?

A structure that carries out specialized jobs within an organ system. Signup and view all the answers

Define organ system.

A group of organs that carries out a more generalized set of functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is cell division?

The formation of two new cells from an existing cell. Signup and view all the answers

What does development entail?

The process by which an organism becomes a mature adult. Signup and view all the answers

What are genes?

Short segments of DNA that contain the instructions for a single trait of an organism. Signup and view all the answers

What is asexual reproduction?

Reproduction where hereditary information from different organisms is not combined, resulting in genetically identical offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What is sexual reproduction?

Reproduction where hereditary information is recombined from two organisms of the same species, resulting in offspring that are not identical. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characteristics of Living Things

Organization and Cells: Living organisms exhibit a high degree of order, both internally and externally. The smallest functional unit is the cell, which comprises atoms, biological molecules, organelles, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
Response to Stimuli: Organisms react to physical or chemical changes in their environment. For instance, touching a hot stove triggers a nerve response to protect the body.
Homeostasis: The ability to maintain stable internal conditions, despite external environmental changes, is crucial for survival.
Metabolism: Represents the total of all chemical reactions within an organism, including energy transformation. An example is photosynthesis, where plants convert sunlight into glucose.
Growth and Development: All living entities expand in size through cell division, leading to complex forms and mature organisms.
Reproduction: Organisms pass hereditary information to their offspring. This occurs through two main processes: asexual reproduction (genetically identical offspring) and sexual reproduction (combination of genetic material from two organisms).
Change Through Time (Evolution): Populations of living organisms undergo changes over generations, illustrating the process of evolution.

Key Terms in Biology

Atom: The fundamental unit of an element, retaining its characteristics and properties.
Biological Molecule: Chemical compounds responsible for structure, function, and movement within organisms.
Organelle: Tiny structures within cells responsible for various life-sustaining functions.
Cell: The basic unit capable of performing all life processes, existing in unicellular or multicellular forms.
Unicellular: Organisms composed of a single cell; examples include bacteria.
Multicellular: Organisms made up of multiple cells; humans are an example.
Tissue: Groups of similar cells that work together for specific functions within an organ.
Organ: Specialized structure performing distinct functions within an organ system.
Organ System: A collection of organs that work together to carry out broader biological tasks.
Cell Division: The process creating two new cells from an existing one. In unicellular organisms, it produces identical offspring, while in multicellular organisms, it aids in growth and cell replacement.
Development: The transformation process through which organisms mature into adults.
Genes: Segments of DNA that blueprint traits in an organism.
Asexual Reproduction: A reproductive strategy producing genetically identical offspring without the combination of genetic material from different organisms.
Sexual Reproduction: A mechanism where genetic information is recombined from two parent organisms, resulting in genetically diverse offspring.