Characteristics of living organisms

Section 1 from the Edexcel IGCSE Biology Specification - the nature and variety of living organisms

What are the 8 life processes which all organisms do to be considered living?

1. Movement

2. Respiration

3. Sensitivity

4. Control

5. Growth

6. Reproduction

7. Excretion

8. Nutrition

(MRS C. GREN)

What are the 5 kingdoms of organisms?

1. Animals

2. Plants

3. Prokaryotes

4. Protoctists

5. Fungi

Are viruses (such as influenza) living?

No. They do not fulfil all life processes.

What is the term given to the maintenance of a constant internal environment?

Homeostasis

What is respiration?

Releasing energy from glucose/release of energy in cells

What is sensitivity?

Detecting and responding to changes (stimuli) in the environment

What is the name of the life process where there is _______ of internal environment or keeping parameters within limits (like temperature)?

Control

How do plants demonstrate movement?

By growing towards light sources and roots growing away from the light.

What specialised cell type detects stimuli (s. stimulus)?

Receptors

What is the difference between egestion and excretion?

Excretion is the removal of metabolic (result of reactions) waste but egestion is the removal of undigested food materials from the body through the anus.

What is ATP?

Energy-carrying molecules used in cells because it can release energy very quickly. They are released during respiration.

What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

Aerobic respiration uses oxygen but anaerobic doesn’t. Aerobic respiration occurs in the mitochondria of cells whereas anaerobic respiration takes place in the cytoplasm. Aerobic provides more energy.

Energy is released in what form during respiration?

Heat

Give 4 examples of a virus.

Influenza, variella-zoster, HIV and AIDS

Give 4 examples of protoctists.

Amoeba, paramecium, plasmodium and chlorella.

Give 4 examples of a prokaryote.

E.coli, lactobacillus, mycobacterium and tuberculosis.

What is the term given to an organism with their genetic information bound in a nucleus/membrane-bound nucleus?

Eukaryotic