Characteristics of Living Organisms Flashcards
what is the criteria for living organisms
MRS GRENC
-movement
-respiration
-sensitivity
-growth
-reproduction
-excretion
-nutrition
-control
why must organisms obtain food
to provide energy to carry out life processes
how do plants get food
-photosynthesis.
-use sunlight, carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and glucose
-described as autotrophic as they create their own food
how do animals get food
-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
repiration
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
excretion
the removal of waste products as a result of metabolic reactions
waste products excreted in animals
CO2 from respiration
Water from respiration and other chemical reactions
Urea which contains nitrogen resulting from the breakdown of protein
waste products excreted in plants
-oxygen from photosynthesis
-carbon dioxide
-water from respiration and other chemical reactions
what is sensitivity
an organisms ability to detect and respond to stimuli in its surroundings, giving it the best chance of survival
endocrine system
-allows a response to stimuli using chemical messengers, which travel in the blood, which are hormones. Hormones are produced in glands
what is movement
an action by an organisms causing a change of position or place
difference between movement in animals and plants
-animals can move from one place to another, called locomotion
-plants cannot move from place to place but can change their orientation
control meaning
-controlling their internal environment to keep conditions within the required limits
-known as homeostasis
optimum human body temperature
37 degrees C
thermoregulation
-control of body temperature
glucoregualtion
control of blood glucose levels
osmoregulation
control of water levels
reproduction
process that leads to the production of more of the same kind or organism
five kingdoms
animals
plants
fungi
protoctists
bacteria/prokaryotes
eukaryotic organisms features
multi or single-celled
-contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane (not cell membrane)
prokaryotic organisms features
-always single-celled
-do not contain a nucleus, but contain nuclear material
-nuclear material is found in the cytoplasm
-much smaller than eukaryotic cells
features of animals
-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
features of plants
-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
main features of fungi
-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
saphrotrophic nutrition
-secreting extracellular digestive enzymes onto the good and then absorbing the digested molecules
main features of protoctists
-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
example of protoctists
amoeba
paramecium
plasmodium
chlorella
nucleus description
contains the genetic material which controls the activites of the cell
cytoplasm description
-a gel like substance composed of water and dissolved solutes
-supports internal cell structures
-site of many chemical reactions
cell membrane description
-holds the cell together, separating the inside of the cell from the outside
-controls which substance can enter and leave the cell
ribosomes description
-found in the cytoplasm
-site of protein synthesis
mitochondria description
-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
cell wall description
-gives the cell extra support, defining its shape
chloroplasts description
-contains green chlorophyll pigments and the enzymes needed for photosynthesis
permanent vacuole description
-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
features of bacteria
-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
lactobacillus
-a rod-shaped bacterium used in the production of yoghurt from milk
pneumococcus
-a spherical bacterium that acts as the pathogen causing pneumonia
how do bacteria feed
-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
pathogen
any microorganism that causes disease in another organism
what microorganisms are pathogens
bacteria
fungi
protoctists
viruses
features of pathogenic bacteria
do not always infect the hosts of cells, can remain within body cavities or spaces
examples of a pathogenic bacteria infecting humans
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
examples of pathogenic fungi in mammals
cattle ringworm and athletes foot
how do fungal disease compare between plants and animals
in plants they are more serious and common
example and description of a pathogenic fungi causing disease in plants
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
pathogenic protoctists example and description
plasmodium falciparum
-causes severe forms of malaria in humans
-spread by mosquitos
-infected individuals experience fever, chills and fatigue
why are viruses not considered to be living organisms
they do not carry put the eight life processes for themselves
features of viruses
-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
examples and description of a viruses that infects plants
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
prevention for tobacco mosaic virus
good field hygiene
tobacco mosaic virus-resistant strains of crop plants
examples and description of a virus that infects humans
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)
how is HIV spread
-direct sexual contact
-exchange of bodily fluids such as blood
-from mother to child during birth or in breast milk
cure for HIV
-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
Influenza
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
