What is Biology?

BIOLOGYthe 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 .

C6H12O6 + 6O2----> 6H2O + 6CO2 + 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.