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IGCSE

Characteristics of Living Organisms

MUAWIA ALI / 12 May, 2023

Living organisms are characterized by the following seven features:

  1. Reproduction

All living organisms are able to reproduce, which means that they can make more of themselves. This can be done through sexual reproduction, where two organisms combine their genetic material to create a new organism, or through asexual reproduction, where a single organism creates a copy of itself.

  1. Growth

All living organisms grow, which means that they increase in size and complexity over time. This growth is due to the increase in cell number and cell size.

  1. Metabolism

All living organisms have a metabolism, which is the process of converting food into energy. This energy is used to power all of the organism's activities, such as movement, growth, and reproduction.

  1. Homeostasis

All living organisms maintain homeostasis, which is a state of internal balance. This means that they are able to keep their internal environment stable, even when the external environment is changing. For example, humans maintain a constant body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, even when the outside temperature is very hot or very cold.

  1. Response to stimuli

All living organisms respond to stimuli, which are changes in the environment. For example, plants respond to sunlight by growing towards it, and animals respond to pain by moving away from the source of pain.

  1. Organization

All living organisms are organized, which means that they are made up of different levels of structure. The smallest level of structure is the cell, which is the basic unit of life. Cells are then organized into tissues, tissues are organized into organs, and organs are organized into organ systems.

  1. Adaptation

All living organisms are adapted to their environment, which means that they have features that help them to survive and reproduce in their particular environment. For example, polar bears have thick fur that helps them to stay warm in the cold Arctic environment.

Classification of Living Organisms

Living organisms can be classified into different groups based on their shared characteristics. The most basic level of classification is the kingdom. There are five kingdoms of living organisms:

  • Animalia (animals)
  • Plantae (plants)
  • Fungi (fungi)
  • Protista (protists)
  • Monera (monerans)

Within each kingdom, there are further levels of classification, such as phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species. For example, humans are classified in the following way:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Mammalia
  • Order: Primates
  • Family: Hominidae
  • Genus: Homo
  • Species: Homo sapiens

Examples of Living Organisms

Here are some examples of living organisms:

  • Animals: humans, dogs, cats, birds, fish, insects
  • Plants: trees, flowers, grasses, vegetables, fruits
  • Fungi: mushrooms, molds, yeasts
  • Protists: algae, protozoa
  • Monerans: bacteria

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