GCSE 1 living things

Question 1

What are the characteristics of living things?

Answer 1

• reproduce
• excrete
• grow
• nutrition
• sensitivity
• respiration
• homeostasis
• movement

Question 2

How many cells are living things made of?

Answer 2

One!!!!

Question 3

Describe the characteristic reproduce

Answer 3

To make more of the species. For example; plants drop seeds to reproduce.

Question 4

Describe the characteristic excrete

Answer 4

To remove bodily waste and/or toxins. Also constitutes for skin. This relates to sweating.

Question 5

Describe the characteristic grow

Answer 5

To increase in size. This is not limited to height in plants and animals and includes bones.

Question 6

describe the characteristic nutrition

Answer 6

To take in nutrients that are necessary such as carbohydrates and vitamins.

Question 7

Describe the characteristic sensitivity

Answer 7

responding to stimuli/responding to external events, e.g fingers

Question 8

Describe the characteristic respiration

Answer 8

Releasing energy taken in from glucose. Breathing does not count because plants do not breathe. E.g lungs

Question 9

Describe the characteristic homeostasis

Answer 9

Controlling an internal environment; things like glucose and water.

Question 10

Describe the characteristic movement

Answer 10

Transporting yourself to another area to find food or get away from danger. Plants do this to get maximum light.

Question 11

Describe “plant”

Answer 11

Plants are multicellular, their cells contain chloroplasts so they can photosynthesize for nutrients, store their food as carbohydrates, starches and sucrose. Their cell walls are composed of cellulose and they contain a nucleus. Examples of plants are maize, beans and peas.

Question 12

Describe “animals”

Answer 12

Animals are multicellular and gain nutrition by eating other animals as their cells do not contain chloroplasts. Their food is stored as carbohydrates and glycogen. Cells do not have a cell wall, but still contain a nucleus. They often have nervous coordination and are able to move from one place to another. Examples of animals are humans and insects.

Question 13

Describe “fungus/fungi”

Answer 13

Fungi can be both multicellular and unicellular, their nutrients are collected via the saprotrophic process, and their food is stored as carbohydrates and glycogen. Their bodies are usually made from thread like structures called hyphae. Their cell walls are composed of chitin and they contain a nucleus. Examples of fungi are Mucor and yeast.

Question 14

Describe “bacteria”

Answer 14

Bacteria are unicellular, usually feed of the living and the dead (though some photosynthesize ) and their food store varies with species. The cells wall also varies with species, though they never have a nucleus but contain a circular chromosome of DNA. Examples of bacteria are lactobacillus and bulgarius.

Question 15

Describe “protoctists”

Answer 15

Protoctists are unicellular, their nutrition and food store varies with species. They do not have a cell wall and may sometimes contain a nucleus. Examples of Protoctists are plasmodium and amoeba.

Question 16

What are vertebrates

Answer 16

Vertebrates are animals with a backbone

Question 17

What are invertebrates?

Answer 17

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone.

Question 18

Describe “mammals”

Answer 18

These have hair or fur, are capable of regulating body temperature, give birth to fully formed babies and produce milk for their young.

Question 19

Describe “fish”

Answer 19

They have gills, scales, they lay eggs, and live underwater.

Question 20

Describe “birds”

Answer 20

have feathered wings, which enable them to fly, have beaks rather than teeth, and light bones that make them light enough to fly.

Question 21

Define “reptiles”

Answer 21

They lay eggs. Though these are air-breathing animals, they can also live in water, but for very short durations (they need to come up above the water level in order to breathe). They have dry, scaly skin and can not regulate their body temperature.

Question 22

Define “amphibians”

Answer 22

They lay eggs,usually in water and breathe through a combination of lungs, gills, and skin. They can not regulate their body temperatures, have moist skin and can live both on land and in water.

Question 23

Define “porifera” (or sponges)

Answer 23

Their cells are held together so loosely that they do not form tissues. Most have pores found all over the body and have a large opening on the tops.

Question 24

Define “mollusca” (or clams)

Answer 24

These generally have one foot that release slimy mucus. Though they are mostly found in water, they can also be found on land.

Question 25

Define “platyhelminths” (or flat worms)

Answer 25

Mostly parasitic in nature and show bilateral symmetry. Most animals in this phyllum have only one body cavity, that serves as both the mouth and the anus. Both males and females have both male and female organs on them.

Question 26

Define “annelida” (or segmented worms)

Answer 26

Most have bristled that help them move. They have soft bodies and can reproduce sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction is through rejuvenation.

Question 27

Define “nematoda” (or round worms)

Answer 27

Slender, worm-like animals, typically less than 2.5 millimeters long. They are found in all types of habitats.

Question 28

Define “Cnidaria” (or jellyfish)

Answer 28

Mostly found in marine habitats, the animals in this phyllum have a two layered body that is symmetrical. The outer body layer had stinging tentacles that can release venom into the victims body.

Question 29

Define “Arthropoda” (or insects or crustaceans)

Answer 29

Has an exoskeleton, a segmented body and joined appendages. They include the insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others.

Question 30

Define “echinodermata” (or starfish)

Answer 30

Most of these animals are sea creatures with a symmetrical body that is either star shaped, spherical or elongated. Most of them have a spiny exoskeleton and most have no proper head. Locomotion is achieved with the help of tubed feet.

Question 31

Which species are vertebrates and which are invertebrates?

Answer 31

INVERTEBRATES

• Porifera
• Mollusca
• Platyhelminths
• Annelida
• Nematoda
• Cnidaria
• Arthropoda
• Echinodermata
• Protozoa

VERTEBRATES

• Mammals
• Fish
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Amphibians

Question 32

What is a parasite?

Answer 32

Organisms that need a host to live, but do not give any benefit to the host.

Question 33

What are viruses?

Answer 33

Viruses are small particles and ate smaller than bacteria. They are parasitic and are able to infect every type of living organism. They have a wide variety of shapes, though they have no cellular structure. They have a protein coat and contain one type of nucleic aid, either DNA or RNA. They are not classified as living things.

Question 34

What are examples of a virus, what do they infect, and what are their effects?

Answer 34

• Influenza; birds, pigs, horses, ferrets, dogs, cats and humans. Causes the flu, which moves through the respiratory tract, attaches and takes over the cells until they die and then are released to attach to another cell.

-HIV Virus; humans.
This causes the AIDS disease, which causes white blood cells to break down, which breaks down your immune system in turn.

Question 35

Why are viruses not classified as living things?

Answer 35

Viruses cannot reproduce without a host cell and they cannot move or respire.

Question 36

What is the saprotrophic process?

Answer 36

The extra cellular secretion of digestive enzymes into food material and absorption of organic products

Question 37

What is a pathogen?

Answer 37

A pathogen is anything that can cause a disease and may include fungi, bacteria, protoctists or viruses

Question 38

Describe the function of each part of a plant cell

Answer 38

Nucleus - to store the cells hereditary information or DNA

Cytoplasm - provides support to all of the internal structures of a cell

Cell Membrane - controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell and acts as a barrier and protection

Cell wall - it provides the cell with support and protection as well as a filtration system

Mitochondria - release energy that the cell can utilize

Chloroplasts - absorb light energy to allow a plant to photosynthesize

Ribosomes - creates proteins for the cell to help it repair damages

Vacuole - stores dissolved sugars, mineral ions and other solutions

Question 39

Describe the function of each part of an animal cell

Answer 39

Nucleus - to store the cells hereditary information or DNA

Cytoplasm - provides support to all of the internal structures of a cell

Cell membrane - controls the movement of substances in and outside of a cell.

Mitochondria - release energy that the cell can utilize

Ribosomes - make proteins for the cell to help it repair damages

Question 40

What is cell differentiation?

Answer 40

A process of which a cell changes from one type to another to become more specialized.

Question 41

Why is cell differentiation important?

Answer 41

Multicellular organisms need specialized cells that perform different functions, and cell differentiation is the process of which cells change to take on a specialization. It is important because any multicellular organism need specialized cells because they perform different required functions of that organism.