Characteristics of Living Things

• Characteristics of living things (organisms)

  • Movement
  • Respiration
  • Sensitivity
  • Growth
  • Reproduction
  • Excretion
  • Nutrition
• Acronym for characteristics of living things

  Mrs gran
• Non-living things may have some of these features, but only living things have all seven
• Movement


  Ability of organisms to move, either the whole organism or just part of it
• Respiration


  Chemical reactions that take place in cells to break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism
• Sensitivity


  Ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
• Growth


  Permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism
• Reproduction


  Process that makes more of the same kind of organism
• Excretion


  Removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
• Nutrition


  Taking in of materials for energy, growth and development
• All living organisms are made up of one or more cells
• Viruses are not considered living organisms because they do not meet all seven characteristics