CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS PRESENTED BY: M. GRIFFIN (BIOLOGY)

ALL LIVING THINGS CARRY OUT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CHARACTERISTICS: GROWTH REPRODUCTION EXCRETION NUTRITION MOVEMENT RESPIRATION SENSITIVITY REMEMBER: MRS. GREN

MOVEMENT Movement is a change in position or location. Animals move from place to place. This change in location is called “locomotion”. Plants, on the other hand are sedentary organisms. This means that they remain in the same location, but show movement when they grow.

RESPIRATION This is the process by which the energy in food is made available for a cell in order for it to do the work necessary to keep it alive. In other words, respiration is the release of energy from food. This energy is used to build up materials, break down materials and to carry out all of the other characteristics of living things.

SENSITIVITY This is how living organisms respond to changes in their internal environment and to the changes in the world around them. A stimulus is a change in the environment that an organism reacts or responds to. The response is the change in the organism brought about by the stimulus. Response to stimuli is important for the survival of organisms.

GROWTH This is the permanent increase in size, mass or numbers.

REPRODUCTION This is the process by which new organisms (offspring) are produced from their parent(s). In plants, after the flower is fertilised, the flower produces an embryo. The flower then develops into a fruit which protects the seed containing the embryo. When the seed is given the right conditions, the embryo grows into a young plant. In humans, the fertilised ovum develops as an embryo, which develops as a foetus, then as a baby.

EXCRETION This is the release of METABOLIC waste. In other words, this is the release of waste produced from chemical reactions in the body (metabolism). Examples of excretion include: Plants - Waste compounds being stored in the bark and leaves, and then the bark and leaves dropping off the plant Plants - releasing oxygen during the day and carbon dioxide at night Animals - Breathing out carbon dioxide which is otherwise toxic to the body Animals - Sweating (releasing salt and urea) Animals - Urinating (releasing salt and urea) N.B. Defaecation (stooling) is NOT considered to be excretion because the waste consists mostly of fiber which has not been broken down (not metabolised).

NUTRITION This is how organisms obtain their food. Food provides the energy for the organism to carry out its daily functions and to stay alive. Plants make their own food using sunlight. Plants are therefore considered to be autotrophs (auto = self; troph = feeding) Animals feed on other organisms. Animals are therefore considered to be heterotrophs (hetero = other)

G R E N Growth Reproduction Excretion Nutrition M R S Movement NOW YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS, TEST YOURSELF. SEE HOW WELL YOU REMEMBER. What are the Characteristics of Living Things? I’ll give you a hint G R E N Growth Reproduction Excretion Nutrition M R S Movement Respiration Sensitivity

ASSIGNMENT Tatyana thinks that a robot is a living thing because it carries out some of the characteristics of living. a) Identify and describe THREE (3) characteristics of living things which the robot carries out. b) Identify and describe TWO (2) characteristics of living things which the robot does NOT carry out. c) Explain to Tatyana why a robot is NOT a living thing.