A search for a

Definition of Life
All organisms have many features or
characteristics in common
 Learning Objectives
1. Outline of the diversity of living things. 
2. What characteristics define a living thing?
3. List the common features & behaviours
identified as living.
4. How are living things classified?
5. Define the terms:
a) Metabolism
b) Diversity of life
c) Continuity of life 2
 5 Kingdoms
Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Monera, Protista

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 The Diversity of Animals
• There are more than a million different species of
animals on planet Earth
• Scientists have organised all these animals according to
how they are related and have similar features

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 The Diversity of Animals
Vertebrates Invertebrates

Fish Worms

Reptiles Insects

Birds Arachnids
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 The Diversity of Plants
Algae
Ferns

Moss

Conifers

Flowering Plants
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 Common Characteristics
All living things:
1. Composed of cells
2. Growth
3. Excretion
4. Movement
5. Nutrition
6. Reproduction
7. Respiration
8. Responsive to their surroundings
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 Metabolism
METABOLISM
Metabolism is the sum of all the biochemical
reactions that occur in the cells of living organism

These reactions are responsible for the process of 

1. Growth
2. Repair
3. Responsiveness
4. Reproduction

All living things metabolise 9

 2 types of Metabolic Reactions
Anabolic Reactions
These reactions use energy to join small molecules
together to form larger molecules
Example: Photosynthesis
6H20 + 6CO2 = C6H12O6 + 6O2

Catabolic Reactions
These reactions use energy to break down large
molecules into smaller ones
Example: Respiration
6O2 + C6H12O6 = CO2 + H2O + Energy
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 Continuity of Life
Continuity of life is the ability of an organism to
exist from generation to the next

You need reproduction and heredity to achieve

continuity

Genes are hereditary factors that are passed on

from one generation to the next during
reproduction

All living things reproduce

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 Learning check
1. Define diversity of life. (slide 5)
2. How many life characteristics are there?
(slide 8)
3. Name 4 life characteristics. (slide 9)
4. Define metabolism. (slide 9)
5. Name 2 metabolic processes. (slide 10)
6. Explain continuity of life. (slide 11)
7. Define the term biodiversity. (TedEd
Biodiversity video)
TedEd Biodiversity

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END

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