Characteristics of Living Things

Assignment:

1.       What is life? Research six specimens from below and describe them as living, nonliving, or dead, and give support for why each belongs in their respective category.

·         Blood Cell

·         HIV virus

·         Amoeba

·         Hair from human head

·         Brown grass

·         Prion

2.       What traits did you list as characteristics of living things, but were not easily observable?

3.       List several processes that occur while an organism is alive but cease when it is dead.

4.       Did any nonliving things possess some of the same characteristics as living things? Which ones?

5.       How do plants differ from animals in their life activities?

6.       Define the word dormant. What factors influence whether something is considered dormant?

7.       Research one of the following controversial discoveries: nanobacteria (Young & Martel, 2009), the “fossilized Martian bacteria” observed on the meteorite ALH84001 (McKay et al., 1996), or Craig Venter’s 2010 announcement of the first creation of “synthetic life” (Gibson et al., 2010). Review the claims made by the researchers who announced the discovery. Do the organisms fit the definition of life? How so?

Assignment Expectations:

Organize this essay assignment using subtitles that summarize the topic from each question above. For example, to answer Question 1, use a descriptive subtitle like the following: What is Life?

Your essay should be approximately 2-3 pages in length. Answer each question under the subtitle using complete sentences that relate back to the question. Be sure to use APA formatting throughout your essay with 1-inch margins, 12-point type, and double spacing throughout. Include a title page, introduction, answers to the questions with subtitles, and a concluding paragraph. Remember to include in-text citations within the body of the essay referencing your resources

Direct quotes should be limited and must be designated by quotation marks. Paraphrased ideas must give credit to the original author, for example (Murray, 2014). Direct copying from “homework help” websites will not receive credit