Unit 2- Cells and Organisms

2.1 Characteristics of Living

Organisms

Grade 7 - Biology
Ms. Upuli Liyanaarachchi
Characteristics of Living Organisms
• Living organisms show a set of 7 characteristics that
make them different from non-living things.
• These criteria can be remembered using the
mnemonic, MRS GREN
1) Movement -M
2) Respiration -R
3) Sensitivity-S
4) Growth -G
5) Reproduction -R
6) Excretion -E
7) Nutrition -N
• If something does not carry out all of these life
processes, it is either dead or non-living.
 Give examples for each above characteristics for plants and
animals separately
Living In plants In animals
Characteristic
Movement The plant shoot move towards light. Posses organs for locomotion
Downward growth of roots
Respiration All the cells do respiration, in seed All the cells do respiration
germination
Sensitivity able to detect and respond to light, Posses sense organs
gravity, chemicals, and even to the
touch.
Growth Unlimited growth Limited growth

Reproduction Produce seeds , Producing baby plants Producing babies

by stem cutting, leaves, runners
Excretion Carbon dioxide in respiration Carbon dioxide
Oxygen in photosynthesis Urine, Sweat
Nutrition make their own food by Depend on other plants and
photosynthesis animals
 Activity 2.1 - Home Work
• Sort the following things into 3 groups in the
given table below.

Bird’s eggs Stone Fallen leaves orchid plant

Wooden bench Sheet of paper sand Centipede

soil glass Pencil Water

Bamboo stick Beetle Iron nail Cotton wool

Wooden peg Metal hair clip Plastic cup Butterfly

Is alive now Was once alive, but Has never been
is now dead alive
 Answers for Activity 2.1
Is alive now Was once alive, but Has never been
is now dead alive
Bird’s eggs Wooden bench Soil

Beetle Bamboo stick Stone

orchid plant Wooden peg glass

Centipede Sheet of paper Iron nail

Butterfly Pencil Plastic cup

Cotton wool Water

• Page 21 – Answers for questions
1) a- Respiration – we breathe to produce energy
Movement – move our hands, legs
Sensitivity – Looking at the diagram
b- reproduction
2) a-cars can move
3) b- Cars don’t show all seven living
characteristics.