Life Processes: Determining Life

Questions and Answers

What is one way we tend to think of as common evidence for being alive?

The ability to fly

The ability to move rapidly

The ability to change color

Some sort of movement, either growth-related or not (correct)

Why are molecular movements necessary for life?

To grow rapidly

To change color

To maintain and repair structures (correct)

To move rapidly

What is one characteristic that defines living organisms?

Ordered nature (correct)

Disordered nature

Rapid movement

Ability to fly

What happens if order breaks down in living organisms?

They die Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of viruses?

They have no molecular movement until they infect a cell Signup and view all the answers

What do cells have in them?

Smaller components Signup and view all the answers

Why do living creatures need to move molecules around?

To maintain and repair structures Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a maintenance process in living organisms?

Repairing and maintaining structures Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of life processes in living organisms?

To maintain and prevent damage and break-down Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of energy for life processes?

Outside the body of the organism Signup and view all the answers

What type of molecules do most food sources consist of?

Carbon-based molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of oxidising-reducing reactions in the body?

To break down molecules Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process of acquiring oxygen from outside the body?

Respiration Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of nutrition in living organisms?

To acquire energy from outside the body Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about single-celled organisms?

They lack specific organs for taking in food, exchange of gases or removal of wastes Signup and view all the answers

Why do living organisms need to break down or build up energy sources from outside the body?

To convert them to a uniform source of energy Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characteristics of Life

Visible movement is not enough to determine if something is alive, as plants can be alive without visible growth and animals can breathe without movement.
Molecular movement is necessary for life, as it is required for the maintenance of living structures.

Importance of Molecular Movement

Molecular movement is necessary to repair and maintain the organized structure of living organisms, which is susceptible to breaking down due to environmental factors.
This movement allows living organisms to maintain their structure and prevent damage and breakdown.

Life Processes

Life processes refer to the maintenance functions of living organisms that continue even when they are not performing any specific activity.
These processes require energy, which comes from outside the body of the organism, and involve the transfer of energy from food sources to the inside of the body.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the process of transferring energy from outside the body to the inside.
Energy sources can be varied, but most are carbon-based, depending on the complexity of the organism.
Different organisms use different nutritional processes to acquire energy.

Respiration

Respiration is the process of acquiring oxygen from outside the body and using it to break down food sources for cellular needs.
Oxidising-reducing reactions are common chemical means of breaking down molecules, and oxygen is often sourced from outside the body.