Biology

A1

Characteristics of living organisms:

1. Respire
2. Excrete
3. Grow
4. Are Sensitive
5. Reproduce
6. Feed
7. Move
8. Made of cells
9. Die

A2

Cells:
Cells are the smallest units of living organisms.
They vary in – Shape, Size, Function
Three basic components – Cell membrane, -
Nucleus, - Cytoplasm
Formation of new cells are to - Replace dead
cells, - Repair cells, - Growth
Cells -- Tissue -- Organs -- Systems -- Organism.

Bacteria:
- One of the smallest living organisms.
- 1/1000 mm in diameter.
- Some are harmful and some are
beneficial.
- Live in water, air, soil, and in other
living organisms.
- Reproduce asexually.
- Form pairs, chains, and clumps.
- Shapes: Spheres, Rods, Bent
rods, and Spirals.
- Destroyed by: Heat, Disinfectant,
and Antibiotics.
Viruses:
- All are harmful.
- Smallest living organisms.
- 100/1 000 000 mm in diameter (100 nanometers)
- Shapes: Sphere, Rods, Any Shape.
- Made of protein wall and a DNA strand.
- They need a living cell to reproduce in.
- Not destroyed by antibiotics.
- Can change shape rapidly.
- Reproduction:
1. Virus enter organism through: nose,
mouth, blood, and saliva.
2. Virus enters the blood stream and
finds a cell.
3. Virus attaches to the cell and injects
its DNA strand into the cell.
4. The DNA strand copies thousands of
times. It will rob the cell’s energy.
5. Cell bursts releasing thousands of new viruses into the blood stream.
6. New viruses are free to find new cells and the process begins again.

Fungus:
- May be unicellular or multi-cellular.
Unicellular Multi-cellular
Yeast Moulds

- They are oval & spherical. - They are tangled masses of

- Feed on sugar. threads.
- Reproduce: Spores - Each thread is a cell.
Budding - Reproduce: Asexually
- Some are harmful and some are beneficial. Sexually
- Destroyed by fungicides. - Live in damp areas.
- Destroyed by fungicide
A3

The Plant Cell:

Cell membrane – Encloses the cell contents.
Cell wall – Gives the cell its shape. It’s a tough rubber
made of cellulose.
Vacuoles – Store water.
Nucleus – Contains chromosomes.
Chromosomes – Gives the cell its features.
Chloroplasts – Contains chlorophyll and gives the
plant its green color.
Mitochondrion – Energy source in the cell.
Ribosome – Help to make protein.
Starch grains – Food storage.
Endoplasmic reticulum – Used for transport within
the cell.

Plant Cells Animal cells

Cell membrane & cell wall
Chloroplasts present
Carbohydrates stored as starch
Large fixed vacuole with definite shape
Cytoplasm pushed to the edge of the cell
cell membrane only
chloroplasts absent
carbohydrates stored as glycogen
small temporary vacuoles no fixed shapes
cytoplasm present throughout the cell
Cells  Tissues  Organs  Systems  Organism

A4
Cells of the body
Epithelial
Sperm
Egg
Nerve
Muscle

A5
Cell Differentiation / Speciliazation
Division of labour
Reasons for division of labour