What are the characteristics of life? What distinguishes a living thing from a non-living thing?
The characteristics of life include the following:
1. Organization: Living things are highly organized and composed of one or more cells, which are the basic units of life. Non-living things do not exhibit such complex organization.
2. Metabolism: Living organisms have the ability to obtain and use energy to carry out various physiological processes necessary for life. They can convert energy from their environment into a usable form for growth, reproduction, and other activities. Non-living things do not possess metabolic processes.
3. Homeostasis: Living organisms have the ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment. They can regulate their internal temperature, pH level, water balance, and other factors to ensure survival. Non-living things do not possess the ability to maintain homeostasis.
4. Growth and Development: Living things have the potential for growth and development throughout their life cycle. They can increase in size, complexity, and differentiate into specialized cells or tissues. Non-living things do not exhibit such growth or development.
5. Reproduction: Living organisms have the ability to produce offspring either sexually or asexually, ensuring the continuation of their species. Non-living things cannot reproduce.
6. Response to Stimuli: Living things can respond to external stimuli in their environment. They can detect changes and react accordingly. This ability allows them to adapt and survive. Non-living things do not respond to stimuli.
7. Evolution: Living organisms can undergo changes over long periods of time through the process of evolution. They can adapt to their environment, leading to the emergence of new species. Non-living things do not evolve.
These characteristics collectively distinguish living things from non-living things.
What are the characteristics of life? What distinguishes a living thing from a non-living thing?
in one sentence
Living organisms exhibit organization, metabolism, homeostasis, growth and development, reproduction, response to stimuli, and evolution, distinguishing them from non-living things.
What sort of things are hard to classify as one or the other/? Why?
one sentence
Viruses are often difficult to classify as living or non-living because they exhibit some characteristics of life such as replication and genetic material, but lack key features like independent metabolism and cellular structure.
What are chloroplasts? What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells that are responsible for photosynthesis, converting sunlight into chemical energy (glucose) and producing oxygen as a byproduct; they are not found in animal cells.
What are mitochondria? What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Mitochondria are organelles found in both plant and animal cells that are involved in cellular respiration, generating energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through the oxidation of glucose and fatty acids.
What are ribosomes? What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Ribosomes are small organelles composed of RNA and proteins that are responsible for protein synthesis; they are found in both plant and animal cells.
List as many other organelles in a cell as you can. What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
Here are several organelles found in cells and their functions:
1. Nucleus: Contains DNA and controls the cell's activities. Found in both plant and animal cells.
2. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism. Found in both plant and animal cells.
3. Golgi apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport. Found in both plant and animal cells.
4. Lysosomes: Contain digestive enzymes for breaking down waste materials and cellular debris. Found in both plant and animal cells.
5. Vacuoles: Store water, nutrients, and waste products. Larger central vacuoles are predominant in plant cells, while animal cells have smaller vacuoles if present.
6. Peroxisomes: Involved in breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying harmful substances. Found in both plant and animal cells.
7. Cytoskeleton: Provides internal structure, cell movement, and transport of organelles. Found in both plant and animal cells.
8. Centrioles: Aid in cell division. Typically found in animal cells, but only present in certain plant cells (such as in some algae).
9. Cell membrane: Controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell. Found in both plant and animal cells.
10. Cell wall: Provides support, rigidity, and protection to plant, fungal, and bacterial cells. Found in plant cells and some other organisms (not in animal cells).
11. Chloroplasts: Convert sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Found in plant cells and some protists.
12. Mitochondria: Generate energy through cellular respiration. Found in both plant and animal cells.
This list is not exhaustive, and there are other organelles or cellular components with specific functions depending on the cell type.
List as many other organelles in a cell as you can. What do they do? Are they found in plant cells, animal cells, or both?
one sentence
Here are several organelles and their presence in plant or animal cells:
1. Nucleus: Stores genetic material and controls cell activities - found in both plant and animal cells.
2. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER): Involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism - found in both plant and animal cells.
3. Golgi apparatus: Modifies, sorts, and packages proteins for transport - found in both plant and animal cells.
4. Lysosomes: Contain enzymes for digestion and waste removal - found in both plant and animal cells.
5. Vacuoles: Store water, nutrients, and waste materials - larger central vacuole in plant cells, smaller in animal cells.
6. Peroxisomes: Break down fatty acids and detoxify harmful substances - found in both plant and animal cells.
7. Cytoskeleton: Provides structural support and helps with cell movement - found in both plant and animal cells.
8. Centrioles: Aid in cell division - found primarily in animal cells, although absent in most plant cells.
9. Cell membrane: Controls the exchange of substances in and out of the cell - found in both plant and animal cells.
10. Cell wall: Provides support and protection - present in plant cells, fungi, and some bacteria, absent in animal cells.
11. Chloroplasts: Carry out photosynthesis and convert sunlight into energy - found in plant cells and some protists.
12. Mitochondria: Generate energy through cellular respiration - found in both plant and animal cells.
Note: This is a general overview, and there may be variations or additional organelles depending on the specific cell type or organism.
What is a plasma membrane? What does it do and where is it found?
A plasma membrane, also known as a cell membrane, is a semi-permeable barrier that surrounds the cell, separating its internal contents from the external environment. Its main function is to regulate the movement of substances in and out of the cell to maintain homeostasis. The plasma membrane is found in all types of cells, including plant, animal, and bacterial cells.
What are the major differences between plant and animal cells?
The major differences between plant and animal cells include:
1. Cell Wall: Plant cells have a rigid cell wall composed of cellulose outside the plasma membrane, providing structural support, while animal cells lack a cell wall.
2. Chloroplasts: Only plant cells contain chloroplasts, which enable photosynthesis and contain the pigment chlorophyll.
3. Vacuoles: Plant cells typically have large central vacuoles that store water and maintain turgor pressure, while animal cells have smaller vacuoles, if present.
4. Shape: Plant cells have a fixed rectangular shape due to the cell wall, while animal cells are more variable in shape.
5. Centrioles: Animal cells have centrioles, which aid in cell division, while plant cells do not have centrioles.
6. Lysosomes: Animal cells often have more lysosomes for digestion and waste removal, while plant cells have fewer lysosomes.
7. Size: Plant cells are generally larger than animal cells.
However, it is important to note that there are many similarities between plant and animal cells in terms of their basic cellular machinery, including the presence of a nucleus, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and other organelles.
What are the major differences between plant and animal cells?
in one sentence
Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole, while animal cells lack a cell wall, chloroplasts, and have smaller vacuoles, if present.
What are the major differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes?
The major differences between eukaryotes and prokaryotes include eukaryotes having a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, while prokaryotes lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, and eukaryotes are typically larger and more complex than prokaryotes.
What are the major differences between unicellular and multicellular organisms?
The major differences between unicellular and multicellular organisms include unicellular organisms being made up of a single cell that carries out all necessary functions, while multicellular organisms consist of multiple cells specialized for different functions that work together to maintain the organism's survival, growth, and reproduction; multicellular organisms also exhibit higher complexity and differentiation compared to unicellular organisms.
What are the major differences between unicellular and multicellular organisms?
one sentece