Edexcel IGCSE Biology

Topic 1: The Nature and Variety of Living

Organisms
Notes

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 Characteristics of living organisms
Functions of all living organisms (1.1)
Movement​: can change position
Reproduction​: can have offspring either sexually or asexually
Sensitivity​: can detect stimuli, such as light, and respond to them
Control​: can control their internal environment (homeostasis)
Growth​: can increase mass
Respiration​: can produce energy either aerobically or anaerobically
Excretion​: can remove toxic or waste produced produced by reactions in the body
Nutrition​: can absorb nutrients in order to use them for growth and repair

These can be remembered under the acronym of ​MRS C GREN.

Variety of living organisms

Eukaryotes (1.2)
Eukaryotes are organisms that have a nucleus and organelles that are found within a plasma
membrane. The functions of these subcellular structures will be described in more detail in Topic 2.

Subcellular structures found in plant and animal cells:

Structure Function

Nucleus ● Contains the genetic material, which codes for a particular protein
● Enclosed in a nuclear membrane.

Cytoplasm ● Liquid substance in which chemical reactions occur.

● Contains enzymes (biological catalysts, i.e. proteins that speed up the rate of
reaction).
● Organelles are found in it

Cell membrane ● Contain receptor molecules to identify and selectively control what enters and
leaves the cell

Mitochondria ● Where aerobic respiration reactions occur, providing energy for the cell

Ribosomes ● Where protein synthesis occurs.

● Found on a structure called the rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Plants
● E.g. cereals (such as maize) or herbaceous legume (such as peas)
● Multicellular​ organisms
● Cells contain ​chloroplasts ​which is the site of ​photosynthesis​: ​chlorophyll​ pigments within the
chloroplast structure absorb light from the Sun
● Cellulose​ cell walls which provide strength to the cell

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 ● Contain a ​permanent vacuole​, which stores cell sap and improves the cell’s rigidity
● Store carbohydrates as ​starch or sucrose

Animals
● E.g. mammals (such as humans) and insects (such as flies)
● Multicellular
● Cannot photosynthesise
● Do not have cell walls
● Have ​nervous systems​ in order to coordinate movement
● Store carbohydrates as ​glycogen

Fungi
● Body is usually organised into a ​mycelium​ of thread-like structures called ​hyphae​ which have
many nuclei ​but some are ​single-celled
● E.g. ​Mucor ​has typical hyphal structure, yeast is single-celled
● Cell walls are made of ​chitin
● Feed by extracellular secretion of digestive enzymes which break it down into smaller pieces,
which can then be absorbed (​saprotrophic nutrition​)
● May store carbohydrates as ​glycogen

Protoctists
● Single-celled​ organisms
● Some have features​ like animals cells​, such as ​Amoeba​, that live in pond water
● Others are more​ like plants​ and have chloroplasts, such as ​Chlorella

Prokaryotes (1.3)
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles
Bacteria
● E.g. Lactobacillus bulgaris (rod-shaped bacterium used to make yoghurt), Pneumococcus
(spherical bacterium that causes pneumonia)
● Single-celled​ and very small
● Have a​ cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm and plasmids
● Lack a nucleus ​but have​ circular chromosomes​ of DNA
● Some can carry out photosynthesis but they mainly eat off of other organisms, either dead or
alive

Pathogens (1.4)
Pathogens are disease-causing organisms and can be fungi, bacteria, protoctists or viruses.

Viruses
● E.g. tobacco mosaic virus which prevents chloroplast formation, influenza virus, HIV virus
leading to AIDS
● Viruses are small particles (much smaller than bacteria) - ​not living organisms

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 ● Parasitic
○ Can only reproduce within living cells
○ Can infect every type of living organisms
○ Hijacks the cell mechanisms to create millions of copies of itself and then spreads
within the host by cell bursting
● They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes
● Do not have a cellular structure but have one type of​ nucleic acid​ (either DNA or RNA) and a
protein coat

Bacteria
● E.g. Salmonella (food poisoning)
● Can reproduce many times through ​binary fission
● Produce toxins that can damage cells

Protists
● E.g. malaria
● Parasitic ​- use animals as their hosts to live in

Fungi
● E.g. Athlete’s foot
● Produce ​spores​ that can spread in the wind or between people
● Can treat with ​fungicides

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