IGCSE Coordinated Science: Characteristics of Living Organisms

IGCSE Coordinated Science: Characteristics of Living Organisms

1.1 Characteristics of Living Organisms

Functions of living things: MRS GREN
Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition.

1. Movement
   Most organisms are able to move their whole body even plants can shift their stem towards the sunlight and their roots move towards healthy soil.

2. Respiration
   This is the breakdown of food inside a living organism and IT IS VITAL for survival. There are 2 types of respiration

• Aerobic Respiration which involves O2 & glucose breaking down to form CO2 water & energy.
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• Anaerobic Respiration which is the incomplete breakdown of food. Happens when there is not enough oxygen. Equation, Glucose & O2 (not enough) to form CO2 and Lactic Acid or Alcohol (depending on the organism) & a little ENERGY.

3. Sensitivity
   It is the ability to detect and respond to a stimulus.
4. Growth
   It is the permanent increase in size and quantity of cells using materials absorbed from the environment.
5. Reproduction
   It is forming new individuals of the same species either sexual (2 parents) or asexual (1 parent)
6. Excretion
   It is removal of harmful products of metabolism.

   Egestion is the removal of undigested products which haven’t entered the cell.

7. Nutrition
   It is the intake of food material from the environment.

• Autotrophic nutrition: Organisms that make their own food such as plants.
• Heterotrophic nutrition: Organisms that need readymade food including herbivores, carnivores & omnivores.