Characteristics & Classification of Living Organisms Flashcards
Define movement.
An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change in place or position.
Define respiration.
Chemical reactions in cells that breakdown nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.
Define sensitivity.
Ability to detect and respond to changes in the external and internal environment.
Define growth.
It is the permanent increase in size and dry mass.
Define reproduction.
Process that makes more of the same kind of organism.
Define excretion.
Removal of waste products of metabolism and substance in excess of requirement.
Define nutrition.
Taking in materials for growth, development and energy.
Define species.
A group of organismis that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
What is DNA?
It is the chemical from which chromosomes are made.
How is DNA formed?
DNA is formed of a sequences of bases.
How do scientists use classfication?
The sequences of bases in DNA are used as a means of classification. Organisms which share a more recent ancestor (are more closely related) have DNA base sequences that are more similar than those that share only a distant ancestor.
