B1: Characteristics of Living Things

  • All living things share these seven abilities which can be remembered as MRSGREN
  • Here are the exact definitions given by Cambridge's syllabus
    • movement: an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place
    • respiration: the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism
    • sensitivity: the ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and to make appropriate responses
    • growth: a permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both
    • reproduction: the processes that make more of the same kind of organism
    • excretion: removal from organisms of thewaste products of metabolism (chemical reactions in cells including respiration), toxic materials, and substances in excess of requirements
    • nutrition: taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; plants require light, carbon dioxide, water and ions; animals need organic compounds and ions and usually need water


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