IGCSE Biology Flashcards

Characteristics of living oragnisms

What acronym is used to remember the characteristics of living organisms?

MRS C GREN (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Control, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition)

What is the process by which plants produce oxygen and glucose?

Photosynthesis

What term describes organisms that create their own food for energy?

Autotrophic

What term describes organisms that consume other living organisms for energy?

Heterotrophic

What chemical reaction is carried out in all living organisms to release energy from glucose?

Respiration

What are the waste products resulting from respiration?

Carbon dioxide and water

What is the removal of toxic materials and substances from organisms called?

Excretion

What waste products are excreted by animals?

Carbon dioxide, water, and urea

What waste products are excreted by plants?

Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water

What is an organism's ability to detect and respond to stimuli in its surroundings called?

Sensitivity

What is a plant's response to gravity called?

Geotropism

What is a plant's response to light called?

Phototropism

What is the action by an organism causing a change of position or place called?

Movement

What is the movement of an organism from place to place called?

Locomotion

What is the control of the internal environment to keep conditions within required limits called?

Homeostasis

What is the control of body temperature called?

Thermoregulation

What is the process that leads to the production of more of the same kind of organism called?

Reproduction

What are the two types of reproduction?

Sexual and asexual

What process is an example of asexual reproduction?

Mitosis

What is defined as a permanent increase in size?

Growth

Name the five kingdoms used in the classification system of living organisms.

Animals, plants, fungi, protoctists, prokaryotes

Which kingdoms are grouped together as eukaryotic organisms?

Animals, plants, fungi, and protoctists

What are the main features of animals cells?

Multicellular, cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane, cells do not have cellulose cell walls, cells do not contain chloroplasts

What is the function of the nucleus?

Contains the genetic material (DNA) which controls the activities of the cell

What is the function of the cytoplasm?

Supports internal cell structures and is the site of many chemical reactions

What is the function of the cell membrane?

Holds the cell together and controls which substances can enter and leave the cell

What is the function of ribosomes?

Site of protein synthesis

What is the function of mitochondria?

Site of most of the reactions involved in aerobic respiration

What are the main features of plants?

Multicellular, cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane, cells have cell walls made out of cellulose, cells contain chloroplasts

What is the function of chloroplasts?

Contains green chlorophyll pigments and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis

Name 3 examples of Fungi.

Moulds, Mushrooms, Yeasts

What are the main features of fungi?

Usually multicellular, cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane, cells have cell walls made of chitin, cells do not contain chloroplasts

What are the main features of protoctists?

Mainly microscopic and single-celled, cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane, some have features like animal cells, some have features like plant cells

What is a key feature of prokaryotic organisms?

They have no nucleus; the nuclear material is found in the cytoplasm.

Give two examples of bacteria.

Lactobacillus and Pneumococcus.

What is a pathogen?

Any microorganism that causes disease in another organism

Name four types of pathogens.

Bacteria, fungi, protoctists, viruses

What human disease is caused by M.tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB)

Name a fungal disease affecting plants.

Black Sigatoka

What protoctist causes malaria in humans?

Plasmodium falciparum

Why are viruses not considered to be alive?

They do not carry out the eight life processes for themselves.

What are the biological characteristics of viruses?

Small particles, parasitic, infect every type of living organism, have no cellular structure but have a protein coat and contain one type of nucleic acid

What virus causes Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)?

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)

What virus causes AIDS?

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

Name three types of virus that cause Influenza.

Influenza A, B, and C