1.

1 Characteristics of living organisms

1 Describe the characteristics of living organisms by describing:

(a) movement as an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment

(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and dry mass

(e) reproduction as the processes that make more of the same kind of organism

(f) excretion as the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements

(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development

1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems

1 State that organisms can be classified into groups by the features that they share

2 Describe a species as a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring

3 Describe the binomial system of naming species as an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an
organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species

4 Construct and use dichotomous keys based on identifiable features

1.3 Features of organisms

1 State the main features used to place animals and plants into the appropriate kingdoms

2 State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the animal kingdom, limited to:

(a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish

(b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans

3 Classify organisms using the features identified in 1.3.1 and 1.3.2