Topic 1- Living Things in the Biosphere

All living things, or organisms, share certain characteristics. All organisms are made of cells, contain similar chemicals, use energy, reproduce, grow, and develop. What is another characteristic that all organisms have?

• Multicellular

• made of chemicals

• respond to stimuli

• specialized cells

Scientists classify and compare how closely organisms are related based on their characteristics. What is the broadest level of classification used by scientists?

• class

• domain

• kingdom

• species

Spencer was looking at organisms under the microscope. He saw an amoeba, an animal-like protist. He knew protists were in the domain Eukarya, even though they were simple forms of life. How are domains Archaea and Bacteria different from Eukarya?

• they have a nucleus

• They do not have a nucleus

• They are autotrophs

• They are heterotrophs

A host is an organism that provides a suitable environment for a virus. How does a virus harm its host organism?

• A virus uses cells in the host’s body as food for energy to produce more viruses.

• A virus injects its genetic material in the host’s cells, and this causes the cells to make copies of the virus

• A virus lives inside and releases wastes into the host's cells, and this causes the cells to burst open and die

• A virus enters a cell inside the host and causes the cell's DNA to mutate

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS3-1

Caroline and Jamie look at a cell under a microscope to determine whether the cell is a protist or a bacterium. What evidence would show that the cell is a bacterium?

• The cell has a nucleus

• THe cell contains genetic material

• The cell is part of a larger organism

• The cell has a protective cell wall

Much like whole organisms, cells must perform functions to survive. Some cell functions include obtaining energy and bringing in nutrients and water. What other function must a cell perform to stay alive?

• move from one organism to another

• produce bacteria

• get rid of wastes

• change into other kinds of cells

A microbiologist is looking at a sample under the microscope and trying to determine whether it is a living organism. Which characteristics should she look for?

• If it needs sunlight

• If it is made of cells

• If it has tissues and organs

• If it spontaneously regenerates

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-1

A botanist discovers a new type of organism living on a type of plant that she is researching. How will the new organism be classified?

• It will be classified according to where it lives

• a new system will have to be made to classify it

• it will be classified based on shared characteristics

• it will be classified by how it moves from one place to another

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A group of people are kayaking down the Alafia River on a hot day and observe several alligators lying on the river bank. Which is the most likely explanation for this behavior?

• They are maintaining homeostasis in their bodies

• They are camouflaging themselves from predators

• They are competing for space to hunt for food

• They are sweating to get rid of extra salt in their bodies

Organisms use different methods to obtain the energy that they need to perform life functions. Which of the following can be an autotroph or a heterotroph?

• Bacteria and fungi

• fungi and viruses

• bacteria and protists

• fungi and protists