Characteristics and classification of living organisms

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Sample objectives

What this unit covers

• Characteristics of living organisms: Explain the features that define living organisms, including: (a) movement as the action that results in a change of position or location by an organism or its part (b) respiration as the series of chemical reactions within cells that decompose nutrient molecules to release energy for metabolic processes (c) sensitivity as the capacity to perceive and react to alterations in the internal or external environment (d) growth as a lasting increase in size and dry mass (e) reproduction as the mechanisms that produce offspring of the same species (f) excretion as the process of eliminating waste products from the organism.
• Concept and uses of classification systems: Organisms can be grouped based on shared characteristics.
• Concept and uses of classification systems: A species is defined as a collection of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
• Features of organisms: Identify the key characteristics that are used to categorize animals and plants into their respective kingdoms.
• Features of organisms: Identify the main characteristics used to group organisms within the animal kingdom, specifically focusing on: (a) the primary categories of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish (b) the main categories of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans.