Life

Question 1

What are the 8 characteristics of living organisms?

Answer 1

• Movement
• Respiration
• Sensitivity
• Control
• Reproduction
• Excretion
• Nutrition
• Growth

Question 2

List the key organelles in animal, plant, and bacterial cells; also know their functions.

Answer 2

Animal - nucleus, cell membrane, mitochondria, ribosomes
Plant - nucleus, cell wall, cell membrane, chloroplasts, mitochondria, ribosomes, vacuole
Bacteria - chromosomal DNA, plasmid DNA, cell membrane, ribosomes, flagella

Question 3

Describe the adaptations of the gametes; also recall those of other specialised cells.

Answer 3

Sperm - acrosome, mitochondria, tail
Egg - nutrients in cytoplasm, cell membrane changes after fertilisation
Both - haploid nucleus

Question 4

List the levels of organisation in organisms.

Answer 4

Organelles, cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.

Question 5

How can substances move in and out of cells, and what factors affect this?

Answer 5

Substances cross cell boundaries by diffusion - osmosis and active transport. Effective factors include surface area to volume ratio, temperature, and the concentration gradient.