CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS
Life defined through observations of activities carried out by living things;
Nutrition
Nutrition is the processes by which food/nutrients are acquired/made and utilized by living organisms.
Green plants and certain bacteria make their own food.
All other organisms feed on complex organic materials.
Respiration
This is the breakdown of food to provide energy.
The energy released is used for various activities in the organism.
- Gaseous Exchange – Process throw which respiratory gases (CO2&O2) are taken in and out through a respiratory surface
Excretion
- Excretion is the removal of metabolic wastes from the body
- Substances like urea, carbon dioxide (Carbon (IV) oxide)
- These substances are poisonous if allowed to accumulate in the body
Growth and Development
- Growth means irreversible change in size
- All organisms increase in size that is, they grow
- Development is irreversible change in complexity
- As they do so, they also become differentiated in form
- Reproduction-Reproduction is the formation of new individuals of a species to ensure continued existence of a species and growth of its population
Irritability
- The ability of organisms to detect and respond to changes in the environment
This is of great survival value to the organism
Movement
- Is the progressive change in position from one place to another
- Some organisms are sessile (ie fixed to the substratum)
- The majority of plants move only certain parts
Collection and Observation of Organisms Biology as a practical subject is learnt through humane handling of organisms
Also See;
DETERMINATION OF THE GENOTYPE OF A DOMINANT PHENOTYPE
CLASSIFICATION OF ANIMALS AND ORGANIZATION OF LIFE