2.1Biology 02. Life Processes
Describe the seven characteristics of living organisms — Cambridge Checkpoint Science 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions
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Lesson summary
2.1 The seven characteristics of living organisms — CHECKPOINT - Lower Secondary Science 0893 notes: Describe the seven characteristics of living organisms and use them to decide whether something is alive.Organism — a living thing.Plants are alive even though they do not breathe…
- Respiration
- Sensitivity
- Reproduction
- Organism — a living thing.Plants are alive even though they do not breathe or have a heart
- Animals — take in food that they eat
- Plants — make their own food by photosynthesis
Section 1 of 7Living and non-living things
Living and non-living things
Organism
- Organism a living thing.
- Plants are alive even though they do not breathe or have a heart.
Seven characteristics
- Seven characteristics an organism must show all seven characteristics to be classed as living.
- They are remembered as MRS GREN.
Section 2 of 7The seven characteristics
| Characteristic | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Changing the position or shape of the body or its parts | Animals walk or swim and plant leaves turn towards light |
| Respiration | Breaking down food in cells to release energy | Happens in every living cell |
| Sensitivity | Detecting and responding to changes in the surroundings | Roots grow down and shoots grow towards light |
| Growth | Permanent increase in size | A young animal or seedling gets bigger |
| Reproduction | Producing young of the same kind | Animals have babies or eggs and plants make seeds |
| Excretion | Getting rid of waste materials made in the body | Animals breathe out carbon dioxide |
| Nutrition | Taking in or making food | Plants make food by photosynthesis and bears eat meat |
Section 3 of 7Nutrition in plants and animals
Animals
- Animals take in food that they eat.
Plants
- Plants make their own food by photosynthesis.
Section 4 of 7Excretion and egestion
Excretion
- Excretion removing waste substances made by the cells, such as carbon dioxide.
Egestion
- Egestion removing undigested food as faeces, which is not excretion because the food was never part of the body.
Section 5 of 7Testing a non-living object against the characteristics
Testing a non-living object against the characteristics
A car
- A car it uses fuel and oxygen for energy, gives out waste gases and moves.
- It cannot grow, reproduce or respire in cells, so it is not alive.
Sensors
- Sensors a car sensor detects darkness, but sensitivity alone does not make it living.
Rule
- Rule something is living only if it shows all seven characteristics.
Section 6 of 7Key terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Organism | A living thing. |
| Respiration | Release of energy from food inside cells. |
| Sensitivity | Detecting and responding to changes in the surroundings. |
| Growth | Permanent increase in size. |
| Reproduction | Producing offspring of the same kind. |
| Excretion | Removal of waste substances made by the body's cells. |
| Nutrition | Taking in or making food. |
Section 7 of 7Exam technique
1
A living thing must show only some of the characteristics — it must show all seven at some time.
2
Plants do not move or respond — plants show movement and sensitivity, for example by growing towards light.
3
Excretion means getting rid of faeces — faeces are egested, and excretion is removal of waste made in cells.
4
Respiration means breathing — respiration is the release of energy from food in cells.
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