RECOGNIZING LIVING THINGS
Characteristics of Living Things
All living things whether plants or animals show the characteristics below
1. Cellular Structure: All living things have a cellular structure. All living things are
made up of one or more cells.
2. Movement: This is an activity by an organism which causes a change in position.
Most single-celled organisms and animals move from one place to another with the aid
of their locomotory organs. Fungi and plants show limited movements with parts of
their body.
3. Respiration: This is the oxidation of food substances such as glucose in cells to
release energy
4. Nutrition: This refers to the taking in, digesting, absorbing, and utilizing food in
animals. Plants require light, Carbon-dioxide, water, mineral salts to make their food
through photosynthesis
5. Irritability/Sensitive: This is the ability to detect and respond to stimuli.
6. Growth: Is the permanent or irreversible increase in the size of an organism
7. Excretion: Is the removal of metabolic wastes from the body on organism
8. Reproduction: This is the process by which an organism gives rise to offspring’s of
its same kind. In other words, it is the process by which organisms gives rise to
genetically identical organism i.e. organisms of the same species. The process may be
asexual if only one parent is involved and sexual if two parents are involved and there
is the fusion of gametes.
9. Adaptation: Living things are able to suit or modify themselves to cope with changes
within their internal and external environment. It increases their chances of survival
within their environment
10. Competition: All living things struggle for survival in order to live. They struggle for
space, light, water, food, reproductive mates.
11. Life Span: All living things have a definite period of existence.
Characteristics of Living Things
All living things whether plants or animals show the characteristics below
1. Cellular Structure: All living things have a cellular structure. All living things are
made up of one or more cells.
2. Movement: This is an activity by an organism which causes a change in position.
Most single-celled organisms and animals move from one place to another with the aid
of their locomotory organs. Fungi and plants show limited movements with parts of
their body.
3. Respiration: This is the oxidation of food substances such as glucose in cells to
release energy
4. Nutrition: This refers to the taking in, digesting, absorbing, and utilizing food in
animals. Plants require light, Carbon-dioxide, water, mineral salts to make their food
through photosynthesis
5. Irritability/Sensitive: This is the ability to detect and respond to stimuli.
6. Growth: Is the permanent or irreversible increase in the size of an organism
7. Excretion: Is the removal of metabolic wastes from the body on organism
8. Reproduction: This is the process by which an organism gives rise to offspring’s of
its same kind. In other words, it is the process by which organisms gives rise to
genetically identical organism i.e. organisms of the same species. The process may be
asexual if only one parent is involved and sexual if two parents are involved and there
is the fusion of gametes.
9. Adaptation: Living things are able to suit or modify themselves to cope with changes
within their internal and external environment. It increases their chances of survival
within their environment
10. Competition: All living things struggle for survival in order to live. They struggle for
space, light, water, food, reproductive mates.
11. Life Span: All living things have a definite period of existence.
