The Living World - Characteristics of Living Organisms

Flashcards covering the characteristics of living organisms with a specific focus on the properties and types of growth as detailed in the lecture.

Twin characters of growth

The increase in mass and the increase in number of individuals.

Internal growth

A type of growth occurring in living organisms through cell division or cell expansion.

Determinate growth

Growth that occurs only up to a certain age, as seen in animals.

Indeterminate growth

Growth that occurs throughout the life of an organism, characteristic of plants via Meristem.

Meristem

The tissue in plants responsible for indeterminate growth throughout their life.

Cell division in animals

A process that occurs up to a specific age for growth and thereafter primarily for repair.

Synonymous growth and reproduction

A phenomenon in unicellular organisms where growth (cell enlargement) and reproduction (cell division) are the same process.

External growth

Growth observed in non-living things, occurring through the accumulation of matter on the surface.

Growth as a non-defining property

The classification of growth because it occurs in both living things (internally) and non-living things (externally).

Characteristics of Living Organism

A set of features including Growth, Reproduction, Metabolism, Cellular organisation, and Consciousness.