Questions and Answers
An organism is any ______ thing.
living
Living things can be either one-celled or ______ organisms.
multi-cellular
A ______ is anything that causes a change in an organism.
stimulus
The ability of an organism to maintain stable internal conditions is known as ______.
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Organisms take in ______ to help them grow and function.
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Carolus Linnaeus developed a two-word naming system known as ______ nomenclature.
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The smallest classification group in biological taxonomy is called a ______.
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The evolutionary history of an organism is referred to as its ______.
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Study Notes
Living Things Overview
- Organisms are any living entities, varying in size from gigantic to microscopic.
- Exhibit different behaviors and have diverse food requirements.
- Share five key traits that define life.
Similar Traits of Living Things
- Organized structure with cells as the smallest unit of life.
- Can be unicellular (one-celled) or multicellular (many cells).
- Contain hereditary material, providing instructions for cellular function and organization.
- Respond to stimuli, with a stimulus causing a change and a response being the reaction to that change (e.g., hearing a fire alarm and leaving).
- Maintain homeostasis, ensuring stable internal conditions regardless of external changes.
Energy Utilization
- Living organisms require energy for organization and function.
- The sun is the primary energy source; organisms convert food into energy.
- Organisms take in oxygen, while green plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
Growth and Development
- Unicellular organisms grow by increasing cell size.
- Multicellular organisms grow by increasing cell number.
- Life span refers to the average duration an organism is expected to live.
Reproduction
- Living things reproduce to create offspring, necessary for the continuation of life.
Needs of Living Things
- Require a habitat such as oceans, nests, homes, or soil to sustain life.
- Living space must meet the organism's needs within its environment.
- Essential raw materials include water.
Classification of Living Things
- Organisms are classified into groups based on shared characteristics.
- Aristotle was an early classifier, dividing organisms into plants and animals, considering features like hair, leg structure, and blood presence.
- Carolus Linnaeus introduced binomial nomenclature, a two-word naming system: the first word for genus and the second for species (e.g., humans as Homo sapiens).
Taxonomy and Phylogeny
- Phylogeny is the evolutionary history of an organism, detailing changes over time.
- Six biological kingdoms include:
- Archaebacteria
- Eubacteria
- Protista (protists)
- Fungi (fungi)
- Plantae (plants)
- Animalia (animals/humans)
Classification Hierarchy
- Species is the smallest classification unit.
- Genus is a group of similar species.
Identification Methods
- Organisms can be identified using field guides or dichotomous keys, which provide a systematic approach to classification based on descriptive characteristics.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of living things in this quiz. From the smallest single-celled organisms to complex multicellular beings, discover the traits and structures that define life. Test your knowledge on the characteristics and needs of various organisms.
