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Biology Y9 > Characteristics of Living Organisms > Flashcards

Characteristics of Living Organisms Flashcards

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1
Q

what is the criteria for living organisms

A

MRS GRENC

-movement
-respiration
-sensitivity
-growth
-reproduction
-excretion
-nutrition
-control

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2
Q

why must organisms obtain food

A

to provide energy to carry out life processes

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3
Q

how do plants get food

A

-photosynthesis.
-use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and glucose
-described as autotrophic as they create their own food

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4
Q

how do animals get food

A

-they consume other living organisms to obtain the energy they require
-they break down larger complex molecules into simpler molecules through the process of digestion
-they are described as heterotrophic as they get food from a range of different sources

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5
Q

repiration

A

a chemical reaction carried out in all living organisms
-energy is released from glucose in either the presence of oxygen or the absence of oxygen
-CO2 and water are waste products
-energy is transferred in the form of ATP

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6
Q

excretion

A

the removal of waste products as a result of metabolic reactions

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7
Q

waste products excreted in animals

A

CO2 from respiration
Water from respiration and other chemical reactions
Urea which contains nitrogen resulting from the breakdown of protein

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8
Q

waste products excreted in plants

A

-oxygen from photosynthesis
-carbon dioxide
-water from respiration and other chemical reactions

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9
Q

what is sensitivity

A

an organisms ability to detect and respond to stimuli in its surroundings, giving it the best chance of survival

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10
Q

endocrine system

A

-allows a response to stimuli using chemical messengers, which travel in the blood, which are hormones. Hormones are produced in glands

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11
Q

what is movement

A

an action by an organisms causing a change of position or place

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12
Q

difference between movement in animals and plants

A

-animals can move from one place to another, called locomotion
-plants cannot move from place to place but can change their orientation

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13
Q

control meaning

A

-controlling their internal environment to keep conditions within the required limits
-known as homeostasis

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14
Q

optimum human body temperature

A

37 degrees C

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15
Q

thermoregulation

A

-control of body temperature

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16
Q

glucoregualtion

A

control of blood glucose levels

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17
Q

osmoregulation

A

control of water levels

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18
Q

reproduction

A

process that leads to the production of more of the same kind or organism

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19
Q

five kingdoms

A

animals
plants
fungi
protoctists
bacteria/prokaryotes

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20
Q

eukaryotic organisms features

A

multi or single-celled
-contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane (not cell membrane)

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21
Q

prokaryotic organisms features

A

-always single-celled
-do not contain a nucleus, but contain nuclear material
-nuclear material is found in the cytoplasm
-much smaller than eukaryotic cells

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22
Q

features of animals

A

-multicellular
-contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
-do not have cell walls
-do not contain chloroplasts
-feed on organic substances made by other living things
-store carbohydrates or glycogen
-usually have nervous coordination
-are able to move from place to place

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23
Q

features of plants

A

-They are multicellular

-Their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane

-Their cells have cell walls made out of cellulose

-Their cells contain chloroplasts

-They feed by photosynthesis

-They store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose

-They do not have nervous coordination

24
Q

main features of fungi

A

-can be multi or single cellular
-multicellular fungi are mainly made up of thread-like structures known as hyphae that contain many nuclei and are organised into a network known as a mycelium
-their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
-their cells have cells walls made of chitin
-do not contain chloroplasts
-feed by saphrotrophic nutrition
-some fungi parasitic and feed on living material
-some fungi store carbohydrates as glycogen
-do not have nervous coordination

25
Q

saphrotrophic nutrition

A

-secreting extracellular digestive enzymes onto the good and then absorbing the digested molecules

26
Q

main features of protoctists

A

-mainly microscopic and single-celled, but some aggregate into large forms
-cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
Protoctists are very diverse:
-some have plant cell features, such as cell walls and chloroplasts (Chlorella)
-some have animal cell features (Plasmodium)
-some protoctists photosynthesise and some feed on organic substances made by other living things
-they do not have nervous coordination

27
Q

example of protoctists

A

amoeba
paramecium
plasmodium
chlorella

28
Q

nucleus description

A

contains the genetic material which controls the activites of the cell

29
Q

cytoplasm description

A

-a gel like substance composed of water and dissolved solutes
-supports internal cell structures
-site of many chemical reactions

30
Q

cell membrane description

A

-holds the cell together, separating the inside of the cell from the outside
-controls which substance can enter and leave the cell

31
Q

ribosomes description

A

-found in the cytoplasm
-site of protein synthesis

32
Q

mitochondria description

A

-site of most of the reactions involved in aerobic respiration
-cells with high rates of metabolism have more mitochondria than cells with fewer reactions taking place

33
Q

cell wall description

A

-gives the cell extra support, defining its shape

34
Q

chloroplasts description

A

-contains green chlorophyll pigments and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis

35
Q

permanent vacuole description

A

-contains cell sap: solution of sugars and salts dissolved in water
-used for storage of certain materials
-also helped support the shape of the cell

36
Q

features of bacteria

A

-microscopic, single-celled organisms
-have a cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm and plasmids
-lack a nucleus but contain circular DNA
-lack mitochondria and have no other membrane-bound organelles

37
Q

lactobacillus

A

-a rod-shaped bacterium used in the production of yoghurt from milk

38
Q

pneumococcus

A

-a spherical bacterium that acts as the pathogen causing pneumonia

39
Q

how do bacteria feed

A

-some carry out photosynthesis despite having no chloroplasts, they still possess chlorophyll and the enzymes to synthesise sugars
-most feed on other living or dead organisms
(if they feed on dead organic matter they are known as saprobionts or decomposers

40
Q

pathogen

A

any microorganism that causes disease in another organism

41
Q

what microorganisms are pathogens

A

bacteria
fungi
protoctists
viruses

42
Q

features of pathogenic bacteria

A

do not always infect the hosts of cells, can remain within body cavities or spaces

43
Q

examples of a pathogenic bacteria infecting humans

A

M. tubercolosis causes tubercolosis
-bacteria infects the lungs, causing a chronic cough and bloody mucus
-associated with poor hygiene and sanitation
-m. Bovine in cows can also transmit to humans to cause TB

44
Q

examples of pathogenic fungi in mammals

A

cattle ringworm and athletes foot

45
Q

how do fungal disease compare between plants and animals

A

in plants they are more serious and common

46
Q

example and description of a pathogenic fungi causing disease in plants

A

black sigatoka
-spreads through the leaves of the plants, reducing its ability to photosynthesise
-lack of photosynthesis causes part so the leaf to die, producing black streaks
-the whole leaf dies eventually

47
Q

pathogenic protoctists example and description

A

plasmodium falciparum
-causes severe forms of malaria in humans
-spread by mosquitos
-infected individuals experience fever, chills and fatigue

48
Q

why are viruses not considered to be living organisms

A

they do not carry put the eight life processes for themselves

49
Q

features of viruses

A

-small particles
-parasitic and can only reproduce inside living cells
-they infect every type of living organism
-have no cellular structure but have a protein coat and one type of nucleic acid: DNA or RNA

50
Q

examples and description of a viruses that infects plants

A

tobacco mosaic
-mosaic pattern of discolouration of the leaves as the virus infects the chloroplasts
-the plant will not grow as much due to the lack of photosynthesis, causing it to not make food and die
-spread by direct contact with an infected plant

51
Q

prevention for tobacco mosaic virus

A

good field hygiene
tobacco mosaic virus-resistant strains of crop plants

52
Q

examples and description of a virus that infects humans

A

HIV leading to AIDs
-HIV starts with a flu-like illness
-can travel to the lymph nodes and attack cells of the immune system
-can stay hidden in the immune system for many years until the immune system is badly damaged it can no longer deal with other infections or cancers (this stage is known as AIDS)

53
Q

how is HIV spread

A

-direct sexual contact
-exchange of bodily fluids such as blood
-from mother to child during birth or in breast milk

54
Q

cure for HIV

A

-no direct cure
-use of antiretroviral drugs used early in the infection can effectively control the disease to slow or halt the progress to AIDS

55
Q

Influenza

A

infects humans and causes the FLU
-influenza A,B or C infect the cells that line the airways
-cause a high temperature, body aches and fatigue

Biology Y9 (6 decks)

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