Biology is the study of living things. Six characteristics differentiate living things (organisms) from nonliving things: response to the environment, growth, reproduction, homeostasis, complex chemistry, and cells. In order to survive, organisms interact with each other and with the environments they’re in. Biologists base their knowledge of organisms on important concepts such as the cell theory, the gene theory, homeostasis, and evolution.
Biology: The study of living things.
Evolution: Change in characteristics of living things over time.
Natural Selection: Organisms with more favorable traits are able to produce more offspring and pass on their favorable traits.
Adaptation: Characteristic that helps organisms survive and reproduce in a given environment.
Population: Group of organisms of the same species living in a given area
Community: All organisms living in a given area.
Ecosystem: All living things and nonliving factors in a given area.
Biome: A group of similar ecosystems.
Biosphere: Part of earth where all life exists.
Symbiosis: Relationship between different organisms where at least one organism benefits from the relationship
Competition: Relationship between organisms needing the same resources in the same place at the same time.
Characteristics of a living thing (organism):
These four unifying principles form the basis of biology.
The world of living things can be organized into levels (from specific to general):
Organisms depend on their environment and other organisms for survival. They interact through relationships such as symbiosis and competition.