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Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award): All Topics
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What are the seven characteristics of living organisms remembered by MRS GREN?
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Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)
Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award): All TopicsComplete deck
01·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What are the seven characteristics of living organisms remembered by MRS GREN?
Answer
Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition.
02·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is movement defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.
03·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is respiration defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.
04·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is sensitivity defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
The ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.
05·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is growth defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
A permanent increase in size and dry mass.
06·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is reproduction defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
The processes that make more of the same kind of organism.
07·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is excretion defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
The removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.
08·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How is nutrition defined in the Cambridge 0654 syllabus?
Answer
The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.
09·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What does 'dry mass' mean when describing growth?
Answer
The mass of an organism or biological sample excluding its water.
10·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Where do the chemical reactions of respiration occur?
Answer
Inside living cells.
11·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What is meant by a stimulus in the context of sensitivity?
Answer
A detectable change in the internal or external environment.
12·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What may change position during movement?
Answer
The whole organism or just a part of it.
13·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What increases as a result of reproduction?
Answer
The number of organisms of the same kind.
14·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Name one waste product of metabolism that organisms can excrete.
Answer
Carbon dioxide produced during respiration.
15·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Name two materials that a plant takes in for nutrition.
Answer
For example, water and carbon dioxide; plants also take in mineral ions.
16·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What three purposes are served by taking in materials for nutrition?
Answer
Providing for energy, growth and development.
17·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Why can a rooted plant show movement even though it does not walk?
Answer
Movement includes a change in position of a part of an organism, such as a leaf.
18·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
A leaf folds when it is touched. Which characteristic is shown by the leaf changing position?
Answer
Movement, because part of the organism changes its position.
19·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Why is breathing not the same as respiration?
Answer
Breathing moves air into and out of the lungs; respiration consists of chemical reactions inside cells that release energy.
20·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Why do living cells require respiration?
Answer
Respiration releases energy from nutrient molecules for metabolic reactions and other cell activities.
21·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Does a plant carry out respiration as well as an animal? Explain.
Answer
Yes. Plant and animal cells both break down nutrient molecules in chemical reactions that release energy for metabolism.
22·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
A person hears a loud sound and turns towards it. Which characteristic is shown by detecting and responding to the sound?
Answer
Sensitivity: the sound is an external change that is detected and responded to.
23·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
What is the difference between movement and sensitivity?
Answer
Movement is a change in position or place; sensitivity is detecting and responding to an environmental change. One response may involve movement.
24·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Give one example of an external change that can cause a sensitivity response.
Answer
A change in light intensity, such as brighter light causing a response.
25·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Give one example of an internal change that can cause a sensitivity response.
Answer
A change in the body's water level, which may cause a response such as thirst.
26·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Why is a short-term increase in mass caused only by water absorption not enough to prove growth?
Answer
Growth requires a permanent increase in both size and dry mass; extra water alone does not increase dry mass.
27·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How can an organism increase in size during growth?
Answer
By increasing its number of cells, the size of its cells, or both.
28·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Why is dry mass more informative than wet mass when judging growth?
Answer
Dry mass excludes water, so it avoids confusing temporary water uptake with a permanent increase in biological material.
29·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
How does reproduction differ from growth?
Answer
Reproduction produces more organisms of the same kind; growth increases the size and dry mass of an organism.
30·B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
An organism produces two offspring of the same kind. Which characteristic does this demonstrate?
Answer
Reproduction, because new organisms of the same kind have been produced.