Characteristics of Living Things

Question 1

What are organelles

Answer 1

Organelles are structures that contribute to the function of cells

Question 2

What are cells

Answer 2

Cells are specialized tissues & are the basic unit of life

Question 3

What are tissues

Answer 3

Tissues are groups of cells specialized to do certain jobs

Question 4

What is a organism

Answer 4

A living thing

Question 5

What are examples of an organ system

Answer 5

Digestive system, nervous system, etc.

Question 6

What is the Cell Theory

Answer 6

1) All living things are made of 1 or more cells
2) Cells carry out all of an organism’s life functions
3) All cells come from other cells

Question 7

What does the Cell Membrane do & what’s its function

Answer 7

The Cell Membrane controls what comes in and out & it’s a barrier that protects the cell
Function: TRANSPORT

Question 8

What does the Cell Wall do & what’s its function

Answer 8

The Cell Wall provides support and protection for the cell and allows materials in and out of the cells ONLY FOUND IN PLANT CELLS
Function: REGULATION

Question 9

What does the Mitochondria do & what’s its function

Answer 9

The Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cells & makes energy (ATP) from food and oxygen
Function: RESPIRATION

Question 10

What does the Cytoplasm do & what’s its function

Answer 10

The Cytoplasm protects and supports the organelles within the cell
Function: TRANSPORT

Question 11

What does Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) do & what’s its function

Answer 11

ER is like a transportation route of cells, materials travel through it. There are 2 types: Rough ER (has ribosomes) & Smooth ER
Function: TRANSPORT

Question 12

What does the Golgi Apparatus do & what’s its function

Answer 12

The Golgi Apparatus labels and packages the proteins that come from ER & gives them a direction to follow.
Function: TRANSPORT

Question 13

What do Ribosomes do & what’s its function

Answer 13

Ribosomes FORM proteins and they can be found in cytoplasm or on ER (rough)
Function: SYNTHESIS

Question 14

What do Vacuoles do & what’s its function

Answer 14

Vacuoles store materials such as water,salt,proteins, and carbohydrates. There are many small ones in animal cells but there is only one big on in plant cells
Function: EXCRETION

Question 15

What do Chloroplasts do & what’s its function

Answer 15

Chloroplasts use energy from sunlight to make energy-rich food molecules during photosynthesis & found in plant cells
Function: SYNTHESIS

Question 16

What do Centrioles do & what’s its function

Answer 16

Centrioles are involved in animal cell division & found ONLY in animal cells
Function: REPRODUCTION

Question 17

What does the Nucleus do & what’s its function

Answer 17

The Nucleus controls most cell processes and contains the hereditary info - DNA & found ONLY in EUKARYOTIC CELLS
Function: REGULATION

Question 18

What do Lysosomes do & what’s its function

Answer 18

Lysosomes contain enzymes that can break down nutrients & they also break down dead organelles
Function: NUTRITION

Question 19

What does Cilia & Flagella do and what’s its function

Answer 19

Cilia & Flagella are made of protein and they help with the movement of individual cells
Function: NUTRITION

Question 20

What do plant cells have & what do animal cells have

Answer 20

Plant cells: cell wall & chloroplasts & Small amount but large vacuoles
Animal cells: Centrioles & Small but many vacuoles

Question 21

What is diffusion

Answer 21

The movement of molecules from an area of HIGH concentration to an area of LOW concentration (requires no energy - passive transport)

Question 22

What is active transport

Answer 22

When molecules from an area of LOW concentration TO an area of HIGH concentration REQUIRES EXTRA ENERGY

Question 23

What is passive transport

Answer 23

When molecules move from an area of HIGH concentration to an area of LOW concentration, WITHOUT NEEDING EXTRA ENERGY

Question 24

What are the most common elements in living things

Answer 24

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen & Nitrogen (CHON)

Question 25

What do ORGANIC compounds have

Answer 25

Organic compounds have BOTH carbon & hydrogen. Organic molecules are LARGER than inorganic molecules

Question 26

Characteristics of Carbohydrates

Answer 26

-Carbohydrates are sugars and starches -Building blocks: simple sugars (supply energy) -Enzymes may break down starches and complex sugars in simple sugars

Question 27

What do Lipids (fats) do

Answer 27

Lipids store energy & examples of lipids are fats,oils, and waxes

Question 28

Characteristics of Proteins

Answer 28

-Building blocks: amino acids -Proteins are one of the most important organic molecules -The SHAPE of Proteins determines what proteins do / its JOB 4 specific jobs of proteins: enzymes, receptor molecules, antibodies, & hormones

Question 29

Characteristics of Enzymes

Answer 29

Enzymes are catalysts that are made of protein. Catalysts affects the rates (speed) of chemical reactions. *one type of enzyme fits ONE AND ONLY ONE type of molecule but if it changes its shape then the enzyme will no longer work* One way enzymes lose their shape is because of HIGH TEMPERATURES.

Question 30

What is the pH scale

Answer 30

The pH scale measures the strengths of ACIDS & BASES. Acid: LOW pH (0-6) Base: HIGH pH (8-14) *pH of 7 is NEUTRAL (water)*

Question 31

What is homeostasis

Answer 31

A balanced state in an organism (all living things MUST MAINTAIN homeostasis).

Question 32

What does Dynamic Equilibrium mean

Answer 32

That the body stays balanced by taking action whenever the balance is disturbed (like sweating when the body is too hot)

Question 33

How do organisms maintain homeostasis

Answer 33

Organisms carry out the same basic life function: transport, nutrition, excretion, respiration, growth, synthesis & regulation - failure to maintain homeostasis will result in disease or death

Question 34

What is Metabolism

Answer 34

Metabolism is the term used to describe all the life processes (transport,nutrition,etc).

Question 35

What is Osmosis

Answer 35

The diffusion of water into or out of the cell. If water diffuses into the cell, the cell swells and may burst. If it loses water then it will shrivel up.

Question 36

Does photosynthesis gives us energy

Answer 36

NO! Photosynthesis only STORES energy in food (glucose) - we need RESPIRATION to get the energy out of the food

Question 37

What is an Autotroph

Answer 37

Autotrophs make their own food

Question 38

What is a heterotroph

Answer 38

Heterotrophs eat other organisms

Question 39

What is the relationship between Stomates & Guard cells

Answer 39

Plants have stomates (holes) in their leaves that let them exchange the glasses used in photosynthesis. Guard cells open and close the stomates to keep the plant from dehydrating.

Question 40

What do Xylem and Phloem do

Answer 40

Xylem and Phloem carry food and water through a plant

Question 41

What is Respiration

Answer 41

A process that takes energy from sugar molecules and places it in molecules of ATP.

Question 42

What is the difference between Aerobic & Anaerobic respiration

Answer 42

Aerobic - requires oxygen & yields more ATP for a molecule of sugar Anaerobic - No oxygen required

Question 43

What happens when humans are forced to get energy from Anaerobic respiration

Answer 43

We'll produce LACTIC ACID that damages muscles ("the burn" you feel during exercise).

Question 44

What are the important differences between Photosynthesis & Aerobic Respiration.

Answer 44

Common mistakes: -"Plants use photosynthesis, not respiration" ALL organisms, including plants, use respiration to get energy -"Respiration is breathing." Breathing is NOT respiration b/c breathing exchanges the gases needed for respiration & when you inhale or exhale, that doesn't give you ATP -"Oxygen is used to breath", that is the opposite! Breathing is used to get oxygen & oxygen is then used to obtain energy from chem. respiration. *without oxygen, you have no ATP & no energy* -"All living things need oxygen/need to breathe." Anaerobic organisms don't need oxygen, and don't have to breathe