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10.1. Living Organisms and Life Processes - Centre of Excellence Academy PDF

The document discusses key topics in biology including the definition of biology, important branches of biology, characteristics of living organisms, differences between living and non-living things, and important life processes. Specifically, it notes that (1) biology is the study of living organisms, (2) the main branches include botany, zoology, microbiology, entomology, anatomy, and ecology, and (3) key characteristics of living organisms include nutrition, respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, excretion, growth, and movement.

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56 views5 pages

10.1. Living Organisms and Life Processes - Centre of Excellence Academy PDF

The document discusses key topics in biology including the definition of biology, important branches of biology, characteristics of living organisms, differences between living and non-living things, and important life processes. Specifically, it notes that (1) biology is the study of living organisms, (2) the main branches include botany, zoology, microbiology, entomology, anatomy, and ecology, and (3) key characteristics of living organisms include nutrition, respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, excretion, growth, and movement.

Uploaded by

Francis Jr
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CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE TRUST ACADEMY

SERVICE BEFORE SELF

BIOLOGY 5090 LESSON NOTES


Contact: +260 974-850-485 or Email: [email protected]
10.1. LIVING ORGNANISMS AND LIFE PROCESSES
Biology is the study of living organisms.

The word biology is derived from two Greek words Bios meaning life and logos meaning study.

Biology is therefore the study of life.

Branches of Biology

Botany the study of plants.

Zoology the study of animals.

Microbiology the study of microorganisms.

Entomology the study of insects.

Anatomy the study of the internal structure of a living organism.


Ecology the study of living organisms in relation to one another and
to their environment.

Genetics the study of inheritance.

Importance of biology

Understand ourselves and our environment better.

Conserve our environment

Maintain person hygiene preventing attack from disease causing


microorganisms(pathogens)

Form an important background for those wishing to undertake


careers in agriculture, human medicine, veterinary medicine,
nutrition, pharmacy, food technology etc.
Characteristics of living organisms

Nutrition is the production or taking in nutrients which are


organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw
materials used to produce energy, growth and tissue repair.

Excretion is the removal of toxic metabolism wastes from the


body of an organism.

Respiration is the chemical reactions that break down


nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy

Sensitivity is the ability to detect or sense changes in the


environment and to make responses

Reproduction is the process by which organisms produce


offspring of the same kind of organism.

Growth is the permanent increase in size and dry mass


by an increase in number of cells, cell size, or both

Movement is an action by an organism or part of an


organism that changes position or place
Differences between living organisms and non living things
1. Living organisms grow while non living things do not grow.

•Living
while
do
2. Living organisms feed while non living things do not fee

3. Living organism move while no living things do not move

4. Living organisms respond to stimuli while


non living things do not respond to any stimuli

Living organisms excrete while non living


things do not excrete

• Living organisms

reproduce young ones of their species


while non living things do not reproduce.

Life processes

Life processes of living organisms are metabolic reactions. Such as

Digestion, respiration, excretion, protein synthesis and photosynthesis


Metabolism is the sum total of chemical reactions that take place inside living cells.

There are two types of metabolic reactions, namely anabolic and catabolic reactions.

Anabolic reactions are metabolic reactions where large and


complex molecules are synthesized from small and simple
molecules e.g. photosynthesis and protein synthesis.

Catabolic reactions are metabolic reactions where large


complex molecules are broken down to simpler molecules
e.g. respiration and digestion.

All metabolic reactions are catalyzed by enzymes.

An enzyme is a biological catalyst.

A catalyst is a substance that alters the rate of a chemical reaction.

Without enzymes life process could occur at a rate that would not sustain life.

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