Structure is the study if the shape, arrangement and composition of the parts of a living things.

In other words, what materials is an organism made of and how are those materials used to build the part of a living thing

Function is the study of the traits, behaviors, and purpose of the parts of a living thing.

In other words, what the structures of a living thing actually do and how they contribute to the behavior of a living thing

5 Characteristics of a living thing

1. Must be made of cells

Characteristic #1

1. Must be able to replicate themselves

Characteristic #2

1. Must store information about structure and function and pass that on

Characteristic #3

1. Must acquire and use energy

Characteristic #4

1. Change over time through evolution

Characteristic #5

The Cell Theory

In the 1850s there were two ideas about how cells came to be:

• Spontaneous Generation
  • Cells and living things could arise from non-living organic matter
• Cells-from-cells (aka the cell theory)
  • Cells must replicate from other cells

Challenge in Definitions

Discovery of Sukunaarchaeum Mirabile

A type of single-celled organism called Archaea

• Lives in of cells of sea plankton called dinoflag