What is Biology?

BIOLOGY the study of living things

Characteristics of All Living Things

How do we know if something is ‘living’? All living things are characterised as being able to do seven things These are usually remembered by the mnemonic MRS NERG M R S N E R G

Movement: All living things move Animals move their whole body to get from one place to another. Plants turn towards light and their roots grow towards the soil.

They Reproduce Asexual- one parent Sexual- two parents

Sensitive (respond) to Environment Movement Behavior

Nutrition : All living things use energy. Animals and humans eat food to obtain their energy. Plants however use the sunlight to obtain their energy.

Excretion Elimination of waste substances from the body. Plants and animals both need to get rid of waste gas and water.

Respiration The process in which an organism uses oxygen for its life processes and gives off carbon dioxide. C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O > 6H 2 O + 6CO 2 + Energy Glucose + 6 Oxygen > 6 Water + 6 Carbon Dioxide + Energy

All living things grow and develop Birth Growth Death

Summary Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants need minerals from the soil Excretion – Getting rid of waste Respiration – Turning food into energy Growth – Growing larger and stronger  becoming adult Seven major characteristics of living things Movement – Animals move to find food and keep away from predators, plants move to face the light Reproduction – the ability to produce offspring to keep the species in existence Sensitivity – responding and reacting to the environment Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants need minerals from the soil Excretion – Getting rid of waste Respiration – Turning food into energy

Living things are made of cells.

Number of Cells Unicellular: one cell Multicellular: many cells

Objectives Be able to determine whether something is a living thing or a non-living thing. Learn and understand the 6 main characteristics of living things.