Biology Unit 1: Characteristics of Living Organisms

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Unit 1: Characteristics of Living Organisms

1. List and describe the characteristics of living organisms.

Remember this handy-dandy acronym and you're golden!

Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity

Growth
Reproduction
Excretion
Nutrition

2. Define the terms of nutrition, excretion, respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, growth, movement.

Nutrition: taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue, absorbing and assimilating them.

Excretion: removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration) and substances in excess of requirements.

Respiration: the chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy.

Sensitivity: the ability to detect or sense changes in the environment (stimuli) and to make responses.

Reproduction: the processes that make more of the same kind of organism.

Growth: a permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both.

Movement: an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.