Flashcards: Fundamentals of Living Organisms and Processes — 24 cards

Living organism — definition?

A biological system carrying out life processes.

Characteristics of living organisms?

Growth, reproduction, response, regulation, cells.

Variety of living organisms — meaning?

Wide range of different life forms in nature.

Classification — purpose?

Grouping organisms by shared features.

Cell — basic unit?

Structural and functional unit of life.

Organelle — role?

Carries out specific functions inside a cell.

Tissue — definition?

Group of similar cells working together.

Organ — example?

Heart, stomach.

Organ system — function?

Group of organs working together for a major function.

Cell wall — presence?

Only in plant cells, provides support.

Cytoplasm — location?

Fluid inside the cell where reactions occur.

Mitochondria — function?

Carry out respiration to release energy.

Lactic acid — produced by?

Fermentation of lactose, lowers pH.

Ethanol — produced during?

Anaerobic respiration by yeast.

Cell membrane — role?

Controls substances entering and leaving the cell.

Diffusion — mechanism?

Particles move down a concentration gradient.

Osmosis — process?

Water moves across a membrane from high to low water potential.

Active transport — mechanism?

Movement against concentration gradient using energy.

Aerobic respiration — products?

Energy, carbon dioxide, water.

Gas exchange — where?

Alveoli in lungs, across cell membranes.

Hypotonic solution — effect?

Water enters cells, they swell.

Hypertonic solution — effect?

Water leaves cells, they shrink.

Fertilisation — in plants?

Fusion of gametes to form seed.

Fertilisation — in humans?

Sperm fuses with egg to form zygote.