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8.1Unit 4: Living organisms and classification

Characteristics of living organisms — Cambridge Checkpoint Biology 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 1 of 5 2 quizzes

📚 Cambridge Checkpoint Biology 0893 Hub / Topical Revision
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Curriculum Equation Key قوانين الرقم الهيدروجيني والاتزان الأيوني - pH & Acid-Base Equilibrium FormulasFast Exam Solution
pH = -log[H⁺] | pOH = -log[OH⁻] | pH + pOH = 14 | [H⁺][OH⁻] = 10⁻¹⁴
Word Equation & Conditions: الرقم الهيدروجيني = -لوغاريتم تركيز أيون الهيدروجين | pH + pOH = 14
Location & Specifications: الاتزان الأيوني، كيمياء 3 ثانوي، التحصيلي، و AP Chemistry.
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Lesson summary

8.1 Characteristics of living organisms — CHECKPOINT BIOLOGY 0893 notes: Define the seven characteristics of living organisms and use them to decide whether something is alive.All living organisms show seven characteristics, remembered as MRS GREN.They are movement, respiration, …

  • Sensitivity
  • Reproduction
  • All living organisms are made of cells, the basic unit of life
  • Growth — a permanent increase in size or mass, for example by increasing cell number or size
  • Nutrition — taking in materials for energy, growth and development.Plants make food by photosynthesis
  • Animals eat other organisms

Part 1 of 5The seven characteristics

The seven characteristics
All living organisms show seven characteristics, remembered as MRS GREN.
They are movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition.
All living organisms are made of cells, the basic unit of life.

Part 2 of 5Movement, sensitivity and growth

Movement
  • Movement an action that causes a change of position or place.
  • Plants move slowly, for example leaves turning towards light.
Sensitivity
  • Sensitivity the ability to detect and respond to changes (stimuli) in the environment.
Growth
  • Growth a permanent increase in size or mass, for example by increasing cell number or size.

Part 3 of 5Respiration and nutrition

Respiration
  • Respiration chemical reactions in cells that release energy from food (glucose).
  • Respiration is not the same as breathing.
Nutrition
  • Nutrition taking in materials for energy, growth and development.
  • Plants make food by photosynthesis.
  • Animals eat other organisms.

Part 4 of 5Reproduction and excretion

Reproduction
  • Reproduction making more organisms of the same kind (offspring).
Excretion
  • Excretion removal of waste products of metabolism, such as carbon dioxide and urea.
    • (the chemical reactions in cells)
  • Removing faeces is egestion, not excretion.

Part 5 of 5Is it alive?

1
List MRS GREN: movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition.
2
Check each characteristic for the object.
3
Check whether it is made of cells.
4
If any characteristic is missing, it is not living.
5
State the conclusion with a reason.
Is it alive?
An organism must show all seven characteristics.
A car moves and uses fuel, but it does not reproduce or grow from cells, so it is not alive.
A fire grows and uses oxygen, but it does not reproduce or grow from cells, so it is not alive.

Key terms

TermMeaning
OrganismA living thing.
MovementAn action that causes a change of position or place.
RespirationChemical reactions in cells that release energy from food.
SensitivityThe ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment.
ExcretionRemoval of waste products of metabolism.
NutritionTaking in materials for energy, growth and development.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying respiration is breathing — respiration releases energy from food in cells.
2
Saying excretion is getting rid of faeces — excretion is removal of metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide and urea.
3
Saying plants do not move — plants move slowly, for example towards light.
4
Saying sensitivity is feeling emotions — it is detecting and responding to changes in the surroundings.
5
Saying growth is just getting bigger — it is a permanent increase in size or mass.

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