Characteristics of living things
The seven characteristics of all living organisms (movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition), each with a picture, and the word MRS GREN to remember them. With Vietnamese subtitles. A “Check yourself” section with typed questions is below the video on the site.
Practice
- Check yourself: Characteristics of living things – Type the missing words, put the steps in order and write a short answer. No multiple choice: you have to remember it.
Transcript
Living things are called organisms. Plants, animals and fungi are all organisms.
All organisms show seven characteristics. These are the signs that something is alive.
Movement. An organism can change its position, or move parts of its body. Plants move too. For example, leaves turn towards the light.
Respiration. The cells of an organism release energy from food, in chemical reactions called respiration.
Sensitivity. An organism can detect changes around it, and respond to them.
Growth. An organism gets bigger and develops until it is an adult.
Reproduction. An organism makes more organisms of the same kind.
Excretion. An organism removes the waste made by its chemical reactions, such as carbon dioxide.
Nutrition. An organism takes in food, and uses it for energy, growth and repair.
A way to remember all seven is the word M R S G R E N. M for movement. R for respiration. S for sensitivity. G for growth. R for reproduction. E for excretion. And N for nutrition.
A living thing must show all seven characteristics. A cat does. A plant does. A fungus does. So they are all alive.
Remember. All living things are organisms. They show seven characteristics: movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition.
More in this series
8:08B1 Characteristics and classification: key vocabulary
Sixteen key words for IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences topic B1 (characteristics and classification of living organisms), with the Vietnamese meaning, how to say each word, a picture and an example. Ends with a test section, and a typing trainer on the site that also practises twelve general science words.
3:29Classification
Why we classify organisms, the levels from kingdom to species, the definition of a species and the binomial name, the five kingdoms, vertebrate and arthropod groups, and how to use a dichotomous key. With Vietnamese subtitles. A “Check yourself” section with typed questions is below the video on the site.
5:29B1 quiz: characteristics and classification
Ten think-time questions on the seven characteristics of living things, species, the binomial name, kingdoms, vertebrates and arthropods, and dichotomous keys.