The Needs & Characteristics of Living Things

Vocabulary flashcards covering the essential needs and characteristics of all living organisms based on lecture notes.

Organisms

Any living thing.

Water

Helps organisms to carry out cellular activity such as DNA replication, cell division, protein synthesis, breaking down food, and transport of nutrients and wastes.

Autotrophs (producers)

Organisms that produce their own food for energy using photosynthesis or chemosynthesis; includes plants and some bacteria.

Heterotrophs (consumers)

Organisms that eat other organisms to get proteins and energy; includes carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores.

Carnivores

Heterotrophs that eat animals.

Herbivores

Heterotrophs that eat plants.

Omnivores

Heterotrophs that eat plants and animals.

Phosphorus

A nutrient that provides building blocks for growth and helps plants with roots, flowers, and healthy cells.

Space to Live

Provides organisms with a place where they can get food, water, and shelter; organisms often compete for this because it limits access to resources.

$$CO_2$$

Carbon dioxide; the component of air that plants need for photosynthesis.

$$O_2$$

Oxygen; the component of air that plants and animals need for cellular respiration.

Cellular Respiration

How cells use food and oxygen to make energy ($ATP$).

Unicellular

Simple, single celled organisms such as bacteria.

Multicellular

Complex organisms made of many cells such as animals and plants.

Homeostasis

The ability to maintain internal conditions in response to environmental changes, such as sweating to cool off or shivering to stay warm.

Ectotherms

Cold-blooded animals that rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature and maintain homeostasis.

$$ATP$$

Adenosine triphosphate; a cell's energy currency that powers daily functions and repair/replacement of damaged cells.

Sexual Reproduction

Process where two parents produce offspring with different genes.

Asexual Reproduction

Process where a single parent produces offspring that is identical to the parent, called a clone.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; the material where genes are found which are used to pass traits to offspring.

Growth

Occurs when an organism's cells increase in number or size.

Stimulus

Any activity that brings about a response; can be internal (like hunger) or external (like light).

Response

An action taken by an organism in reaction to a stimulus.

Natural Selection

The process where traits best suited for the environment will survive to be passed on to offspring.

Cool Hippos Eat Really Tasty Green Red Cherries

A mnemonic for the characteristics of all organisms: Cells, Homeostasis, Energy, Reproduce, Traits, Grow, Respond, and Change.