Characteristics of life

Is energy recycled?

NO it is not recycled, energy comes from the sun which gets transferred to a plant which then gets transferred as it moves up the food chain. If an organism dies without getting eaten or passing the energy in someway the energy ceases to exist.

Name the first 2 characteristics of life

Made of cells

Biological organisation

Name the 3rd and 4th characteristics

Responds to stimuli

Reproduces

5 and 6?

Grows and develops

Adaptations (Contains DNA)

Last two?

Maintains homeostasis Uses energy

What characteristics does a virus have of being alive

Contain DNA

Adapt/Mutate

Grow and Develop

What characteristics do viruses lack?

No cells

No metabolism

Do not maintain homeostasis

They do not respond to stimuli

Define Homeostasis

To keep internal balance within an organism, for example temperature regulation and blood PH level balance.

Define metabolism

The sum total of all chemical reactions within an organisms body. Destroying and building molecules for energy production and cellular processes.

Define anabolism

Building up new molecules using energy that was recently released.

Define catabolism

The process of breaking down molecules to release energy for anabolism

Why does “goiter” happen?

When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, often due to a lack of iodine in the diet.

What role does the thyroid play in maintaining hormones?

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism by producing hormones (Such as thyroxin) that can regulate energy use and growth, as well as maintaining homeostasis by influencing other bodily functions such as heart rate, internal temperature, and PH level.

Give a basic definition for why organisms adapt and how it relates to their enviornment

Organisms adapt to their environment to survive so that reproduction is more abundant, and enabling them to thrive in changing conditions.

Define Mitosis

Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells, allowing for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms.

Define meiosis

Meiosis is a way of reproduction essential for sexual reproduction in organisms. It is different than mitosis because this needs two parents and creates an equally diverse version of the two parents instead of an exact genetic copy which you would find in mitosis.

Autotroph v hetotroph

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food usually through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, whereas heterotrophs obtain their nutrition by consuming other organisms.

Ectotherm v endotherm

Ectotherms are organisms that rely on external environmental conditions to regulate their body temperature, this is different from endotherms who can generate and maintain their own body heat internally.