Summary iGCSE Biology Pearson Edexcel Topic 1 Nature and Variety of Living Organisms Complete Notes

IGCSE BIOLOGY – TOPIC 1
THE NATURE AND VARIETY OF LIVING ORGANISMS

a) CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING ORGANISMS

• MOVEMENT – all living organisms require movement towards
food/water and away from danger

• RESPIRATION – the energy from food eaten aids respiration (which is a
chemical reaction)

• SENSITIVITY – the ability to detect changes in surrounding and to
respond to them accordingly

• GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT – an increase in size and dry mass, an
increase in complexity

• REPRODUCTION – the process to make more of the same kind of
organism

• EXCRETION – the removal of toxic materials and waste products

• NUTRITION – taking in of materials for growth, development and
energy

• CONTROL – the ability to control their internal conditions (homeostasis
– osmoregulation/thermoregulation)


You can use the pneumonic
‘MRS GRENC’ to remember all 8
characteristics of living
organisms



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