RECOGNIZE THE SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, INTERDEPENDENCIES, AND BASIC STRUCTURES OF LIVING THINGS.

A STUDENT SHOULD KNOW THAT:

A. CELLS CARRY ON MANY FUNCTIONS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN LIFE.

1. All organisms are composed of cells.
2. Cells are the basic units of structure and function of living things.
3. Cells provide a framework hat support the complex chemical reactions required to sustain life.

B. IMPORTANT LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN LIVING SYSTEMS FOR STRUCTURE AND
     FUNCTION INCLUDE CELLS, TISSUES, ORGANS, ORGAN SYSTEMS, AND ORGANISMS.

1. The cell's size, shape and structure usually contribute to its function.
   1. Tissue is a group of similar cells that perform the same function.
      1. Organ systems function together to form an organism.
      2. The more complex the organism is, the greater the differentiation between tissues and systems. This causes complex organisms to have a great dependence on their systems performing well with each other.
      3. Each organ system allows an organism to perform a particular life function.

C. ORGANISMS CAN BE CLASSIFIED BY EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CHARACTERISTICS, E.G., 
     INVERTEBRATE/VERTEBRATE AND VASCULAR/NON VASCULAR.

1. Physical structure is often the primary basis for biological classification.
2. The complete classification system from broad groupings to more narrow and specific groupings include: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and species.

D. ORGANISMS HAVE LIFE CYCLES.

1. The life cycle of an organism is the series of changes it goes through. These changes occur in its development and in producing more of its kind.

TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS OUTLINED ABOVE, A STUDENT SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

• Trace the flow of energy through a food web.
• Describe how cells, tissues, and organs in a multi cellular organism are related to one another.
• Give an example of a kingdom of organisms.  Describe the characteristics shared by its members.