Chapter 1 Flashcards
What does the acronym MRS GREN stand for?
Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition
These are the key characteristics shared by all living organisms.
Define movement in the context of living organisms.
The ability of organisms to move towards favorable conditions or away from danger.
What is respiration in living organisms?
The release of energy from food (usually glucose) to fuel biological processes.
What does sensitivity refer to in living organisms?
The ability to detect and respond to stimuli in the environment.
What is meant by growth in living organisms?
An increase in size and complexity by adding cells or cell mass.
What is reproduction in the context of living organisms?
The process of producing offspring for the continuation of the species.
Define excretion in living organisms.
The removal of waste products from metabolism (e.g., carbon dioxide, urea).
What is nutrition for living organisms?
The intake of materials for energy, growth, and repair.
What is the hierarchy of classification?
Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
Which category in the classification hierarchy is the most specific?
Species.
What are the five kingdoms of living organisms?
- Prokaryotes
- Protoctists
- Fungi
- Plants
- Animals
What are prokaryotes?
Single-celled organisms without a nucleus (e.g., bacteria).
What are protoctists?
Mostly single-celled organisms with a nucleus (e.g., amoeba, algae).
What defines fungi?
Organisms with cell walls made of chitin that do not photosynthesize (e.g., mushrooms, yeast).
How do plants differ from animals?
Plants photosynthesize and have cell walls, while animals feed heterotrophically and lack cell walls.
What characterizes animals?
Multicellular organisms that lack cell walls and feed heterotrophically.
What is binomial nomenclature?
A scientific naming system for organisms with two parts: Genus (capitalized) and species (lowercase).
What is the difference between vertebrates and invertebrates?
Vertebrates have a backbone; invertebrates do not.
What distinguishes prokaryotes from eukaryotes?
Prokaryotes lack a nucleus, while eukaryotes have a nucleus.
Why is classification important?
- To organize biodiversity
- To understand evolutionary relationships
- To identify and name organisms accurately (taxonomy)
