Living vs. Non-Living
Name ONE characteristic all living things have.
Examples: made of cells / grow and develop / reproduce / use energy / respond to stimuli / maintain homeostasis.
What is the basic unit of life?
The cell
What does unicellular mean?
Made of one cell
Put these in order from smallest to largest: organ, tissue, cell.
cell → tissue → organ
Why are stem cells important in medicine?
They can replace damaged cells/tissues and help treat diseases/injuries.
Living things must use energy to survive. What is this called?
Metabolism (or using energy)
What does the cell do that makes it the “building block of life”?
It carries out life processes (functions necessary for life).
What does multicellular mean?
Made of many cells
What is a tissue?
A group of similar cells working together to perform a function.
What is cell donation used for?
To help repair or replace damaged cells/tissues (examples: blood donation, bone marrow donation, organ donation, corneas).
A robot dog can move and respond to sound. Why is it still considered non-living?
It is not made of cells and does not carry out life processes on its own (no growth/reproduction/metabolism like living things).
True or False: All living things are made of cells.
True
Give ONE example of a unicellular organism.
Bacteria, amoeba, yeast, paramecium (any correct example)
Put these in order: organism, organ system, tissue, cell, organ.
cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism
What is one ethical concern people may have about stem cell research?
Use of embryos, consent issues, beliefs about when life begins (any valid ethical concern).
Seeds may look non-living, but they are living. What evidence supports that?
Seeds can grow/develop into a plant when given water, warmth, and conditions.
What is one major difference between a cell and an atom?
Cells are living and perform life functions; atoms are non-living building blocks of matter.
Why can multicellular organisms grow larger than unicellular organisms?
They have many cells working together, allowing specialization and support.
The heart is an example of what level of organization?
Organ
Explain the difference between a stem cell and a specialized cell.
Stem cells can become many different cell types; specialized cells have a specific job/function (like nerve cells, muscle cells).
Viruses are controversial—living or non-living? Explain why.
Often classified as non-living because they are not made of cells and can’t reproduce independently; they must use a host cell.
A student says “tissues are the building blocks of life.” Correct them using the correct term and reasoning.
Cells are the building blocks of life because they are the smallest unit that can perform all life processes. Tissues are groups of cells.
A multicellular organism is made of many cells. Why do those cells need to be organized?
Organization allows specialized cells to work together efficiently to perform complex life functions.
What is a stem cell?
A cell that can develop into different types of specialized cells
“Explain why cells are called the building blocks of life AND connect it to levels of organization.”
Cells are the smallest unit that performs life processes. In multicellular organisms, cells group together to form tissues, tissues form organs, organs form organ systems, and organ systems form an organism.