Humans are macro-organisms. They have an internal defence system; a digestion system to absorb and consume nutrition; we have a means of using oxygen to produce energy and a support network of bones and muscles. We humans are extremely complicated.
To identify a living organism, according to science, an organism must have the following processes:-
- Movement : the process in which an organism moves using bones, muscles, joints, ligaments. Plants move as a trophic response to light and gravity.
- Respiration : the process in which an organism intakes gas and removes another.
Animal Respiration-
6O2 + C6H12O6 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
Plant respiration-
6CO2 + 6H2O = 6O2 + C6H12O6
- Sensitivity : the process in which an organism grow in reaction to their environment.
- Growth : the process in which an organism will grow to survive.
- Reproduction : the process in which an organism reproduce to further their existence, animals sexually reproduce to create variation and individuals, whereas plants and microbes reproduce asexually to create genetic copies (clones).
- Excretion : the process in which an organism removes waste. Animals remove waste via faeces, urine, sweat, carbon dioxide and water. Plants remove waste via oxygen.
- Nutrition : the process in which an organism consumes material in order to access energy to survive. Animals consume carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, water, fibre and minerals. Plants consume minerals, carbon dioxide and water.
Even in cells, there is still a level of hierarchy or organisation.
Cell organisation is the name given to how cells are arranged and the number required to make up individual organ systems.
Cell - Tissue - Organ - Organ system - Organism
E.g. Red blood cell - Blood - Heart - Circulatory system - Human Cells are generally specialised to a particular task, for example, a red blood cell is designed to carry oxygen by containing haemoglobin; having no nucleus and shaped like a peanut to carry more oxygen.
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