Life science is the study of living things—from the tiniest bacteria to the largest animals, including humans. Understanding life science helps us answer important questions like: What makes something alive? How do living things grow and change? How do they interact with each other and their environment? By learning about life science, you will gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world, develop critical thinking skills, and see how science applies to everyday life. In this first semester of life science, you will learn the characteristics of life, levels of biological organization, how to apply the scientific process, basic structures and functions of cells, domains of life, human body systems, and animal behaviors that increase chances of survival and successful reproduction.