What is a life cycle? Flashcards
What do all living things go through?
A life cycle, i.e. changes throughout their lives.
What is a cycle?
A pattern that repeats itself continuously
What do living things do?
Reproduce and have young.
Do the young go through a similar life cycle as their parents?
Yes. In this way, living things of the same kind continue to be found on earth.
Why do the young go through a similar life cycle as their parents?
So that living things of the same kind can continue to be found on earth.
What are the different stages in the life of a living thing?
Birth, growth, development and reproduction. These different stages make up a cycle called a life cycle.
What happens when living things become adults?
They are able to reproduce. Their young will go through the same stages in their lives, just as the parents did.
Does a life cycle repeat itself?
Yes.
Why is a life cycle important?
Because it ensures the survival and continuity of living things. When the parents die, the young will continue to live and have young when they reach adulthood.
Do different animals have different stages of growth and development?
Yes. Some living things have more stages in their life cycles than others.
Can the young of animals look similar or look very different from their parents?
Yes.
Name the young of an animal that may look similar to its parent.
Kitten / cat
Name the young of an animal that may look different from its parent.
Tadpole / adult frog
caterpillar / butterfly
What is the life cycle of a human like?
Egg… egg develops into a baby inside the mother until it is ready to be born
Young… a baby is born alive. The baby looks like an adult
Adult… a fully developed human adult is able to reproduce.
What is the life cycle of a chicken like?
Egg… eggs are laid on land. Each egg has a hard shell that protects the young animal growing inside.
Young… a chick looks like an adult
Adult… an adult chicken is able to reproduce
Why does the egg of a chicken have a hard shell?
to protect the young animal growing inside.
What is the life cycle of a frog like?
Egg…. eggs are laid in water. Each egg has a jelly-like covering
Young… a tadpole lives in water. It does not look like an adult. It has a tail and breathes through its gills.
Adult… an adult frog lives on land and in water. It does not have a tail and gills anymore. It breathes with its lungs and skin instead.
How does an adult frog breathe?
With its lungs and skin.
Does an adult frog have a tail and gills?
No.
Name some animals that have a three-stage life cycle.
Chicken Frog Cockroach Grasshopper Dragonfly
egg / young (nymph) /adult
Name some animals that have a four-stage life cycle
Butterfly
Mosquito
Beetle
egg / larva / pupa / adult
What does a nymph do as it grows?
It moults several times.
Does a nymph look like a adult?
Yes, except that it is smaller and does not have wings.
What is a nymph like?
Very active and eats a lot.
What is moulting?
Growing of new skin and shedding the old one.
Where does a tadpole live?
In water.
How does a tadpole breathe?
Through its gills.
How does a frog breathe?
With its lungs and skin.
Where are the eggs of a cockroach laid in?
Within an egg case.
Does an adult cockroach have wings? Can it fly?
Yes.
Where are the eggs of a grasshopper laid in?
Soil
What is the larva of a butterfly called?
Caterpillar
What does the caterpillar live on?
Plants. It eats a lot and moults several times as it grows.
What is the life cycle of a mosquito like?
egg, larva (wriggler), pupa and adult
What is the larva of a mosquito called?
Wriggler
How do the mosquito larva and pupae breathe?
Through air tubes that pierce through the water surface.
