Characteristics of living organisms

What does MRS GREN stand for?

Movement respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition.

Define movement as a characteristic of life

The ability of orgasms to change position or move parts of their body often in response to stimuli.

Define respiration as a characteristic of life

The chemical process in cells that release energy from food using oxygen, producing carbon dioxide and water as waste

Define sensitivity as a characteristic of life

The ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment, such as light, temperature, or torch, by senses or receptors

Define growth as a characteristic of life

a permanent increase in size or mass, often involving cell division and enlargement

define reproduction as a characteristic of life

The process of producing offspring to ensure the survival of the species either asexually or sexually

Define excretion as a characteristic of life

The removal of waste products from metabolic processes, such as carbon dioxide from respiration or urea from protein breakdown

Define nutrition as a characteristic of life

Obtaining and using food for energy growth, and repair; autotrophic or heterotrophic

Give an example of how a plant shows sensitivity

Tropisms, such as phototropism (growing towards light) or hydrotropism (root going towards water)

Why are viruses not considered living organisms?

They like several MRS GREN characteristics, such as independent movement, respiration, grow, or nutrition; they only reproduce inside host cells