unit 1 - The nature and variety of living organisms

• Key features of living organisms:

  • Movements
  • Respiration
  • Sensitivity
  • Growth
  • Reproduction
  • Excretion
  • Nutrition
• Non-living things may also have some of these features, but only living things have all seven features
• Movement refers to the ability of organisms to move, whether it's the whole body or just a part of it
• Respiration is a set of chemical reactions in cells to break down nutrient molecules like sugars and release energy for metabolism
• Sensitivity is the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
• Growth is a permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism
• Reproduction is the process of making more of the same kind of organism
• Excretion is the removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
• Nutrition is the taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development
• All living things are made up of one or more cells