Needs and Characteristics of Living Things

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the essential needs of organisms, the eight defining characteristics of life, types of reproduction, and cellular requirements as discussed in the lecture.

Organisms

Any living thing.

Basic Needs of All Organisms

Water, nutrients, space to live, and air ($O_2$ or $CO_2$).

Water (Cellular Functions)

Helps organisms carry out cellular activities such as DNA replication, cell division, protein synthesis, breaking down food, and transport of nutrients and waste.

Nutrients

Provide organisms with the materials they need to grow.

Autotrophs (producers)

Organisms, including plants and some bacteria, that make their own food for energy via photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs (consumers)

Organisms that must consume others for energy, categorized into carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores.

Phosphorus

A nutrient that provides building blocks for growth and helps with roots, flowers, and healthy cells.

Space to Live

Provides a place where organisms can get food, water, and shelter; often leads to competition between organisms.

Air ($CO_2$ focus)

The component of air needed by plants for the process of photosynthesis.

Air ($O_2$ focus)

The component of air needed by both plants and animals for cellular respiration.

The 8 Characteristics of Life (Mnemonic)

"Cool Hippos Eat Really Tasty Green Red Cherries" representing: Cells, Homeostasis, Energy, Reproduce, Traits, Grow, Respond, and Change.

Unicellular

Simple, single-celled organisms such as bacteria.

Multicellular

Complex organisms made of many cells, such as animals and plants.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain internal conditions in response to environmental changes, such as sweating in hot conditions or shivering in cold conditions.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

The cell's energy currency used to power daily functions and the repair or replacement of damaged cells.

Sexual reproduction

Process involving two parents producing offspring with different genes.

Asexual reproduction

Process involving a single parent producing an offspring that is a clone, meaning it is genetically identical to the parent.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)

The molecule containing genes used to pass traits to offspring during reproduction.

Growth

The process of an organism becoming larger by cells increasing in number or size.

Stimulus

Any activity that brings about a response from an organism.

Internal Stimulus

A stimulus originating from within, such as hunger or thirst, leading to a response like eating or drinking.

External Stimulus

A stimulus from the environment, such as light or sound, leading to a response like staying awake or becoming aware of surroundings.

Natural Selection

The process where traits best suited for the environment survive to be passed on to offspring, causing a species to change over time.

Evolution

Change in a species over time; note that individuals cannot evolve, only populations can.