What is reproduction?

Producing new organisms of the same kind.

Removing waste products made by the organism's own chemical reactions.

Taking in or making the nutrients needed for energy and growth.

How do plants carry out nutrition?

They make their own food by photosynthesis.

Is respiration the same as breathing?

No. Breathing brings oxygen in, but respiration releases energy in cells.

What is the difference between excretion and egestion?

Excretion removes metabolic waste; egestion removes undigested food.

Why is a burning candle not alive?

It does not carry out all seven life processes, e.g. it does not reproduce or respond to stimuli.

Why is a dry seed still living?

It is dormant, with very slow life processes, and can germinate and grow.

Characteristics of living thingsIB MYP Biology: Flashcards

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What are the seven life processes?

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What are the seven life processes?: Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition (MRS GREN).
What is movement?: A change of position or place.
What is respiration?: The chemical reactions in cells that release energy from food.
What is sensitivity?: Detecting changes in the surroundings and responding to them.
What is growth?: A permanent increase in size or mass.
What is reproduction?: Producing new organisms of the same kind.
What is excretion?: Removing waste products made by the organism's own chemical reactions.
What is nutrition?: Taking in or making the nutrients needed for energy and growth.
How do plants carry out nutrition?: They make their own food by photosynthesis.
Is respiration the same as breathing?: No. Breathing brings oxygen in, but respiration releases energy in cells.
What is the difference between excretion and egestion?: Excretion removes metabolic waste; egestion removes undigested food.
Why is a burning candle not alive?: It does not carry out all seven life processes, e.g. it does not reproduce or respond to stimuli.
Why is a dry seed still living?: It is dormant, with very slow life processes, and can germinate and grow.

Exam questions on Characteristics of living things

A class in Wellington watches a candle burn. The flame gets bigger when more wax melts, it uses oxygen from the air, it releases carbon dioxide and heat, and it flickers and moves in the draught. A student suggests that the candle must be alive.
Explain why the burning candle is not a living thing.2 marks
A student in Vancouver grows bean seedlings on a windowsill. Over two weeks the shoots bend towards the window and the plants grow from 5 cm to 12 cm tall. The dry mass of the plants increases. The student also notes that the plants make their own food using light.
Outline how a bean plant shows sensitivity and how it carries out reproduction.2 marks
A scientist is given three samples from a field station: a dry seed that has been stored in a jar for 20 years and shows no obvious movement or growth, a flask of yeast and sugar solution that is bubbling, and an iron nail that is covered in orange rust.
Describe three pieces of evidence that could show that the yeast is living, naming the life process for each.3 marks

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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).