Natural Science Unit 1 - Living things

Hello everybody!

Here you have the most important information you need to know for the first exam of Natural Science.

You are going to do it very well!

PARTS OF THE CELL:

UNICELLULAR AND MULTICELLULAR ORGANISMS:

Organisms that have only one cell are called unicellular organisms.

Organisms that are made up of many cells are called multicellular organisms.

VITAL FUNCTIONS:

All living things perform three vital functions:

1. Nutrition: All living things obtain nutrients from their environment to live, grow and develop. They transform them into energy. For example:

• Plants produce their own food through photosynthesis.
• Animals feed on other living things.
• Decomposers feed on dead plants and animals.

2. Reproduction: All living things produce new organisms similar to them. Reproduction can be:

• Asexual: only one organism is required (ex. bacteria).
• Sexual: two different types of individuals are required: male and female (ex. animals).

3. Interaction: All living things interact with their environment. This change is called a stimulus, and the reaction, a response.

THE FIVE KINGDOMS:

Living things can be classified into five groups called kingdoms.

1. Plant kingdom: Plants are multicellular and they make their own food through the photosynthesis. During this process, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

2. Protist kingdom: Protists can be unicellular or multicellular. Most protist are found in water. Examples: algae and amoeba.

3. Monera kingdom: All organisms are unicellular and they can be found on land, in the air, in water and inside other living things. Example: bacteria.

4. Animal kingdom: Animals are multicellular and they can’t make their own food. Most of them have the ability to move.

5. Fungus kingdom: Fungi can be unicellular or multicellular and they can’t make their own food. Examples: yeasts and mushrooms.