This worksheet will help you understand the key characteristics that define living organisms. For each characteristic, provide examples from the natural world.
Instructions: Fill in the blanks and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
What Makes Something Alive? The 7 Characteristics of Life
All living things share seven key characteristics. These are often remembered by the acronym MRS GREN:
- Movement
- Respiration
- Sensitivity
- Growth
- Reproduction
- Excretion
- Nutrition
Let's explore each one:
1. Movement:
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Definition: Living things show movement, either of the whole organism or of parts within the organism. This isn't just about physical locomotion.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Think about plants, animals, even tiny cells!)
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Your Explanation: Describe how movement is important for survival. _______________________________________________________________________________
2. Respiration:
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Definition: The process by which organisms break down food to release energy. This often involves oxygen, but not always.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Consider how different organisms obtain and use energy.)
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Your Explanation: What is the purpose of respiration? _______________________________________________________________________________
3. Sensitivity (Irritability):
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Definition: The ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment (stimuli).
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Think about how plants respond to light, or animals respond to touch or sound.)
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Your Explanation: Why is sensitivity crucial for survival? _______________________________________________________________________________
4. Growth:
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Definition: An increase in size or complexity of an organism.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Consider the growth of a plant from a seed, or an animal from birth to adulthood.)
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Your Explanation: How does growth differ in plants and animals? _______________________________________________________________________________
5. Reproduction:
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Definition: The process by which organisms produce offspring, passing on their genetic information.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Consider asexual and sexual reproduction in different organisms.)
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Your Explanation: Why is reproduction essential for the continuation of a species? _______________________________________________________________________________
6. Excretion:
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Definition: The process of removing waste products from the body.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Consider how different organisms get rid of their waste.)
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Your Explanation: What would happen if an organism couldn't excrete waste? _______________________________________________________________________________
7. Nutrition:
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Definition: The process by which organisms obtain and utilize nutrients for growth, repair, and energy.
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Examples: _______________________________________________________________________________
- (Consider how different organisms obtain their food – photosynthesis, eating other organisms, etc.)
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Your Explanation: What are the different types of nutrition found in living things? _______________________________________________________________________________
Challenge Questions:
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Are viruses living things? Explain your answer, referencing the characteristics of life. _______________________________________________________________________________
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Can you think of any exceptions to these characteristics? (For example, are there organisms that don't always exhibit all seven characteristics?) _______________________________________________________________________________
This worksheet is designed to be completed independently or in a group setting. Remember to provide clear and concise answers, offering specific examples where possible. Good luck!
