SS1 Biology Lesson Note on Living and Non Living Things

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LIVING AND NON-LIVING THINGS

Everything in the world can be classified as either a living thing or a non-living thing. Living things include plants and animals (things that have life) e.g., Man, Monkey, Earthworm, Flies, Mango, Fresh okra plant, Hibiscus, etc. Non-living things do not have life e.g., Stone, Water, Air, Table, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS

• Some features have been found in every living thing ever studied by Biologists, these are;
• Living things consist mainly of water and compounds carbon.
• They are made up of one or more units called cells
• They carry out seven basic life processes namely;

Movement – This is defined as the ability of an organism to change its position. It may be a total change in position of the body as in the case of animals that move their whole body from one place to another or a limited change in position as in the case of plants which can only move parts of their body (e.g. in bending). Living things move in order to look for food, shelter, mates (reproduction) and to escape from danger. Generally, most animals can walk, swim, or fly from one place to another but plants can only move parts of themselves in response to external stimuli. Movement from place to place is also referred to as Locomotion.

Nutrition – This is the ability of an organism to feed. The reason for feeding is to enable living things to live and carry out life processes like growth, respiration and reproduction. Plants manufacture their own food through the process of photosynthesis (autotrophic nutrition). Animals cannot manufacture their own food but depend directly or indirectly on plants for food (heterotrophic nutrition).

Respiration – This involves the taking in of oxygen in order to burn down (oxidize) food substances to release energy which is used to carry out all life processes. Carbondioxide is given off in the process.

Excretion – This is the removal of metabolic waste products from the body. Many chemical activities go on in an organism and produce waste. These waste products are substances which the organism does not need and which may poison it if allowed to build up in the body. The waste products of metabolism include carbondioxide, water, urea, e. t. c.

Irritability or Sensitivity – This is the ability of an organism to perceive and respond to stimuli (changes in the surrounding). Living things exhibit sensitivity in order to survive in their environment. The response is often by some form of movement. Stimuli include heat, light, pain, sounds, chemical substances, e.t.c.

Growth – This is defined as permanent increase in size and mass of an organism, especially while young. Organisms also replace and repair worn or damaged parts of the body throughout life. The food eaten provides the basis of growth.

Reproduction – This is the ability of a living organism to produce young ones or offspring. This ensures continuity of life. Reproduction occurs in two forms.

Asexual reproduction

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