1. Cambridge IGCSE Biology
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Cambridge IGCSE Biology
Characteristics of Living Things

2. You will need to be able to:
list and define the characteristics of living organisms

3. There are 7 characteristics:
Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity
Growth
Reproduction
Excretion
Nutrition
MRS GREN

4. Movement
An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

5. Respiration
The chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy

6. Sensitivity
The ability to detect or sense changes in the environment (stimuli) and to make responses.

7. Growth
A permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both.

8. Reproduction
The processes that make more of the same kind of organism

9. Excretion
The removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration) and substances in excess of requirements.

10. Nutrition
The taking in of nutrients which are organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw materials or energy for growth and tissue repair, absorbing and assimilating them.

11. Summary Movement Respiration Sensitivity Growth Reproduction Excretion
Nutrition

12. Quiz Guess which characteristic is being
demonstrated by the following animations:

13. Question 1

14. Question 2

15. Question 3

16. Question 4

17. Question 5
Which two characteristics are shown by
this animation:

18. Question 6 Other than movement, which characteristics
are shown by this animation:

19. Question 7
So far you should have named a total of five different characteristics.
However there are 7 characteristics in total.
Name the two remaining characteristics.

20. Answers:
How well did you do?

21. Question 1: Excretion

22. Question 2: Nutrition

23. Question 3: Movement

24. Question 4: Reproduction

25. Question 5: Sensitivity and Movement
Which two characteristics are shown by
this animation:

26. Question 6: Sensitivity and Nutrition
Other than movement, which characteristics
are shown by this animation:

27. Question 7: Growth and Respiration
So far you should have named a total of five different characteristics.
However there are 7 characteristics in total.
Name the two remaining characteristics.

28. Now you should be able to
list and define the characteristics of living organisms

29. Cambridge IGCSE Biology