Characteristics of living organisms

Question 1

Define Reproduction.

Answer 1

The creation of offspring of the same species as the parent.

Question 2

What are the main features of protoctysts?

Answer 2

They are mainly microscopic and single-celled but some grouped together into larger forms. Their cells contain a nucleus. Some protoctysts can photosynthesize and some can feed on organic substances made by other living organisms. Some have chloroplasts.

Question 3

What are the main features of prokaryotes?

Answer 3

They are unicellular. They lack a nucleus but contain a circular chromosome of DNA. They lack membrane-bound organelles. Their cell wall is made out of peptidoglycan. They asexually reproduce through binary fission. Some bacteria have flagella. They contain chlorophyll but not chloroplasts. They feed through photosynthesis or on other organisms.

Question 4

State the features that all cells share.

Answer 4

Cytoplasm. Jelly-like material within the cell in which reactions occur. Cell membrane. A thin membrane that surrounds the cell and controls the entry and exit of substances. DNA. Genetic material which codes for proteins. Ribosomes. Site of protein synthesis. Enzymes. Catalyzed reactions in the cell.

Question 5

What are the main features of animals?

Answer 5

They are multicellular. Their cells contain a nucleus with membrane-bound organelles. They cannot photosynthesize. They store carbohydrates as glycogen.

Question 6

What are the main features of plants?

Answer 6

They are multicellular. Cells contain a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Their cells have cell walls made out of cellulose. They feed by photosynthesis. They store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose. Their cells contain chloroplasts.

Question 7

What are the main features of fungi?

Answer 7

Multicellular fungi are made up of many thread-like structures called hyphae that contain many nuclei and are organized into a network called mycelium. Their cells are made out of chitin. They feed by secreting extracellular digestive enzymes outside the mycelium onto the food and then absorbing the digestive molecules. Their cells don’t contain chloroplasts so they cannot carry out photosynthesis. They store carbohydrates as glycogen.

Question 8

What are the main features of viruses?

Answer 8

Viruses are not classified as living organisms. The only life process they can perform is reproduction. They’re smaller than bacteria. They can only reproduce inside living cells. They have no cellular structure but have a protein coat and one type of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA.

Question 9

Define excretion.

Answer 9

The removal of waste products from metabolic processes or substances in excess.

Question 10

Define sensitivity.

Answer 10

The detection of a stimulus and the ability to respond to that stimulus.

Question 11

Define respiration.

Answer 11

A chemical reaction in which energy is released from glucose.

Question 12

What are some examples of reproduction?

Answer 12

Sexual. Two parents combining genetic material through gamete fusion. Asexual. One parent creating genetically identical offspring without gamete fusion.

Question 13

Photosynthesis definition.

Answer 13

An endothermic reaction in which energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplast by light.

Question 14

What is a permanent vacuole?

Answer 14

An organelle which stores cell sap and improves cell rigidity.

Question 15

What are some examples of prokaryotes?

Answer 15

Pneumococcus. Lactobacillus. Pneumococcus causes pneumonia. Lactobacillus is found in yogurt.

Question 16

What are the five kingdoms?

Answer 16

Prokaryotes, protoctus, fungi, plants, and animals.

Question 17

What is saprotrophic nutrition?

Answer 17

The mode of extracellular nutrition in which digestive enzymes are secreted onto the food outside the cell and the products of digestion are absorbed.

Question 18

Plasmid definition.

Answer 18

Circular loops of DNA in prokaryotic cells.

Question 19

Pathogen definition.

Answer 19

A pathogen is an organism or agent that can cause disease.

Question 20

What are some examples of fungi?

Answer 20

Molds, mushrooms, yeasts, truffle.

Question 21

Name eight parts of a plant cell.

Answer 21

Nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, cell membranes, cytoplasm, permanent vacuole, chloroplast, cell wall.

Question 22

What is chlorophyll?

Answer 22

Green pigment which absorbs light for photosynthesis.

Question 23

What is mitochondria?

Answer 23

An organelle that is a site of aerobic respiration.

Question 24

How do different types of cells store carbohydrates?

Answer 24

Animals, glycogen; plants, starch or sucrose; bacteria, glycogen; fungi, glycogen; protoctus, starch or glycogen.

Question 25

What are some examples of pathogenic microorganisms?

Answer 25

Bacteria, fungi, protoctus, or viruses.

Question 26

What are prokaryotic cells?

Answer 26

Prokaryotic cells are unicellular simple cells that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Question 27

How is DNA stored in prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells?

Answer 27

Eukaryotic DNA is stored in a nucleus. Prokaryotic DNA is found in the cytoplasm in the form of a nucleoid.

Question 28

What is a cell wall?

Answer 28

An outer structural layer that surrounds some cells that provide structural support and protection.

Question 29

Name five parts of an animal cell.

Answer 29

Nucleus, mitochondria, ribosome, cell membrane, cytoplasm.

Question 30

What organisms are eukaryotic and what organisms are prokaryotic?

Answer 30

Eukaryotic: Animals, plants, fungi; Prokaryotic: Bacteria.

Question 31

What are eukaryotic cells?

Answer 31

Eukaryotic cells are multicellular or single-celled organisms that contain a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

Question 32

Where does photosynthesis occur?

Answer 32

In the chloroplasts.

Question 33

What are chloroplasts?

Answer 33

An organelle which is the site of photosynthesis.

Question 34

What is the equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 34

Carbon dioxide plus water equals glucose plus oxygen.

Question 35

What are the word equations for anaerobic respiration in animal cells and plants and yeast cells?

Answer 35

Anaerobic respiration in animal cells: glucose equals lactic acid. Anaerobic respiration in plants and yeast cells: glucose equals ethanol plus carbon dioxide.

Question 36

What is the word equation for aerobic respiration?

Answer 36

Glucose plus oxygen equals carbon dioxide plus water.

Question 37

Define control.

Answer 37

The regulation and coordination of internal conditions to maintain stability and proper function.

Question 38

Define movement.

Answer 38

When an organism changes its position or place.

Question 39

Define growth.

Answer 39

A permanent increase in size of an organism by either an increase in the number of cells or the size of the cells.

Question 40

Define nutrition.

Answer 40

The intake of substances required for growth, development, and energy.

Question 41

Define species.

Answer 41

A group of organisms that can breed to produce fertile offspring.

Question 42

Why are viruses not living?

Answer 42

Because they don’t have all eight of the characteristics of living organisms, only reproduction.

Question 43

What are the eight characteristics of living organisms?

Answer 43

Movement, respiration, sensitivity, control, growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition.

Question 44

What are some examples of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protoctists?

Answer 44

Bacteria: tuberculosis, meningitis; Fungi: athlete’s foot, black cicatoca; Protoctists: plasmodium causes malaria, P. infestans causes potato blight; Viruses: influenza, HIV.

Question 45

What are some examples of protoctists?

Answer 45

Amoeba, similar to animal cells. Plasmodium causes malaria. Chlorella, similar to plant cells.