Edexcel IGCSE Biology · Spec 1.1
Characteristics of Living Organisms
The eight life processes shared by all living organisms — the MRS GREN characteristics — and how to tell whether something is living.
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Characteristics of Living Organisms
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Spec 1.1
What you need to know
- List the characteristics shared by all living things
- Explain what each one means
- Use them to decide whether something is alive
Active recall
Quick check
Answer each question before opening the answer.
What does the memory aid MRS GREN stand for?
Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition — the seven life processes shared by all living organisms.
What is the difference between excretion and egestion?
Excretion is removing the waste products of metabolism (e.g. carbon dioxide, urea). Egestion is removing undigested food that never entered the body's cells.
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