Ch.2 - The Characteristics of Life Flashcards
What is an organism?
An organism is a living thing.
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the sum of a chemical reactions in an organism.
What are organisms with high and low metabolic rates called?
Organisms such as mice are said to be fast-acting because they have high metabolisms. Organisms such as tortoises have slow-acting metabolisms.
What are the 5 characteristics of life?
Organisation, nutrition, response, reproduction and excretion are needed to call something alive.
What is organisation?
Organisation means that living things (humans in this case) are composed of cells, tissue, organs and organ systems.
What is excretion?
Excretion is the removal of waste products of metabolism from the body.
How do plants and humans excrete?
Plants excrete waste gases called stomata on the underside of their leaves. Humans excrete through the skin, lungs and urinary system, the main products of excretion are carbon dioxide, salts and surplus water.
What is response?
Response is the way in which organisms react to stimuli in their environment.
What is reproduction?
Reproduction is the production of new individuals.
What is sexual reproduction?
Sexual reproduction involves the union of gametes (sex cells) from the father and mother. The offspring will carry genetic information from both parents.
What is asexual reproduction?
Asexual reproduction requires only one parent. It often involves simple organisms splitting off into two or more identical offspring.
What is the continuity of life?
The continuity of life means that life can arise only from living things of the same type.
