Characteristics+of+Living+Organisms

Seven Characteristics of Living Organisms
An organism is any living creature. It is made up of one or more cells.

Living Organisms have 7 common characteristics. These characteristics can be remembered using the following:


 * MRS GREN**


 * Movement**
 * Respiration**
 * Sensitivity**
 * Growth**
 * Reproduction**
 * Excretion**
 * Nutrition**

A non-living organism will only move if it has been pushed, pulled or an outside force of some type has been affected upon it. Movement in a living organism, is controlled within the organism itself. This movement of an organism may be by its parts or its whole body.
 * M is for Movement**

Respiration is an energy releasing activity. An organism receives the energy it requires for living by breaking down complex organic molecules into simpler ones through the process of respiration. This process breaks down sugars and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water.
 * R is for Respiration**

An organism is sensitive to external stimuli (changes in its surroundings) and can respond to them.
 * S is for Sensitivity**

An organism increases in size and mass. It also replaces or repairs damaged tissues or cells.
 * G is for Growth (replacement and repair)**

An organism reproduce new members of its species.
 * R is for Reproduction**

An organism must continually remove its waste products. If the watse was allowed to accumulate it would become toxic.
 * E is for Excretion**

An organism either takes in food or produces its own food from raw materials for use in energy yielding reactions such as respiration
 * N is for Nutrition**

Dichotomous Keys
Great monster dichotomous key activity []