Characteristics Of Living Things

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biology

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the study of living organisms

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atom

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the smallest unit into which material can be divided without losing its essential properties. Made up of protons and neutrons in the nucleus and electrons that circle far around the nucleus.

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molecule

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a group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds. It has no electrical charge.

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organelle

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A differentiated structure within a cell, such as a mitochondrion, vacuole, or chloroplast, that performs a specific function.

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cells

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- The basic structural unit for all organisms.

- Small compartments that hold the biological equipment necessary to keep an organism alive and successful (genetic material, cytoplasm and membrane)

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tissues

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similar kinds of cells acting together to perform specific functions in the body

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organ

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Part of a living thing, distinct from the other parts, that is adapted for a specific function

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organ system

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a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions

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organism

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an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form

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population

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A group of individuals of the same species occupying a particular geographic area.

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Community

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A group of plants and animals living and interacting with one another in a particular place. It can be small and local, as in a pond or city park, or it can be regional or global, as in a rain forest or the ocean

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Ecosystem

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a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (things like air, water and mineral soil), interacting as a system

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Biosphere

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The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life

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Unicellular

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organisms that are composed of a single cell

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Multicellular

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Organisms that are made up of many cells

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Metabolism

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the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life

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Autotroph

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a plant that can make its own food

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heterotroph

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an animal that can't make its own food supply, so it has to eat other things, like plants or other animals, to survive

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DNA

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a double helix shaped substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals

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Evolution

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the process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth

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Abiotic

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A non living physical or chemical element of an environment (eg. sunlight, carbon dioxide)

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Biome

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a specific environment that's home to living things suited for that place and climate (eg. rain forest, desert, ocean)

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Biotic

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A living or once living organism in an ecosystem

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Chloroplast

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The organelle where photosynthesis occurs

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Environment

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the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates

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Endoplasmic Reticulum

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A structure within a cell containing a system of folded membranes and sacs, responsible for the production, processing and transportation of materials for use inside and outside a eukaryotic cell.

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Rough ER

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A structure within a cell containing a system of folded membranes and sacs, that has surface ribosomes and is involved in the synthesis of proteins

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Smooth ER

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A structure within a cell containing a system of folded membranes and sacs, that has NO surface ribosomes and is involved in the synthesis of Lipids and steroids

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Cell Theory

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The ideas that all living matter consists of cells, cells are the structural and functional units of life, and all cells come from preexisting cells.

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Prokaryote

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A single celled organism that lacks a membrane-bound nucleus and specialized organelles

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Ribosome

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A cellular structure composed of RNA and proteins that is the site of protein synthesis in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

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Plasma membrane

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A thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytoplasm of a cell that controls the movement of materials in and out of the cell.

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Cytoplasm

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The jellylike material that makes up much of a cell inside the cell membrane.

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Plasmid

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a genetic structure in a cell that can replicate independently of the chromosome

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Cell wall

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The rigid outermost cell layer found in plants and certain algae, bacteria, and fungi but absent from animal cells

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Flagellum

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a microscopic whiplike structure that rotates, enabling many protozoa, bacteria, spermatozoa, etc., to swim.

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Eukaryote

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An organism with one or more cells that contain a membrane bound nucleus and specialized organelles in the cytoplasm.

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Nucleus

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A membrane-bound organelle within a eukaryotic cell that contains most of the cell's genetic material and controls the activity of the cell.

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Mitochondria

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The "power house" of most eukaryotic cells that controls cellular respiration

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Golgi Apparatus

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An organelle in eukaryotic cells responsible for the final stages of processing proteins for release by the cell.

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Lysosome

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An organelle that is surrounded by a membrane, has an acidic interior, and contains enzymes that break down food molecules, especially proteins and other complex molecules

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Cytoskeleton

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the network of protein filaments and microtubules in the cytoplasm that controls cell shape, maintains intracellular organization, and is involved in cell movement

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Plastid

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A membrane-bound organelle commonly found in photosynthetic organisms responsible for the synthesis and storage of food

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Vacuole

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A cavity within the cytoplasm of a cell, surrounded by a single membrane and containing fluid, food, or metabolic waste

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Endosymbiosis

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A theorized process in which early eukaryotic cells were formed from simpler prokaryotes.

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Homeostasis

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The process by which an organism regulates its internal environment

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Mechanism

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The combination of components and processes that serve a common function