What Is Life

Front

Organism Noun

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[or-guh-niz-uhm]

Back

Organism

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Any individual living thing, such as a plant or animal, that is capable of carrying out all life processes.

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Example: An amoeba is a single-celled organism that carries out all life processes.

Front

Dead Adjective

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[ded]

Back

Dead

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The state of an organism that was once alive but is no longer able to perform any vital life functions.

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Example: A wilted plant with brown leaves shows it is no longer alive.

Front

Nonliving Adjective

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[non-liv-ing]

Back

Nonliving

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Describing an object or substance that has never been alive and lacks the fundamental characteristics of life.

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Example: The image shows abiotic elements like rocks and sunlight, which are nonliving.

Front

Gas Exchange Noun

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[gas eks-cheynj]

Back

Gas Exchange

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The biological process of moving essential gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide between an organism and its environment.

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Example: The image shows how oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the alveoli of the lungs.

Front

Energy Noun

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[en-er-jee]

Back

Energy

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The power obtained from food or the sun that is required for all of an organism's life processes.

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Example: Sunlight provides energy for plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Front

Waste Noun

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[weyst]

Back

Waste

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Useless or harmful by-products created by an organism's metabolic processes that must be removed from the body.

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Example: The kidneys filter waste from the blood, which is then stored in the bladder before being excreted.

Front

Environment Noun

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[en-vahy-ruhn-muhnt]

Back

Environment

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The complete surroundings or conditions, including living and nonliving things, in which an organism lives and operates.

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Example: An aquatic environment showing fish, plants, and water, illustrating how living and nonliving things interact.

Front

Adaptation Noun

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[ad-ap-tey-shuhn]

Back

Adaptation

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A special physical feature or behavior that has evolved to help an organism survive in its specific environment.

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Example: Different beak shapes of Darwin's finches show adaptation to their environment.

Front

Metabolism Noun

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[muh-tab-uh-liz-uhm]

Back

Metabolism

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The sum of all the chemical reactions that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

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Example: The image shows how glucose and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP) in metabolism.

Front

Exoskeleton Noun

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[ek-soh-skel-i-tn]

Back

Exoskeleton

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A rigid external covering for the body in some invertebrate animals, providing both support and protection from harm.

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Example: The image shows an insect with labeled parts, highlighting the exoskeleton, which provides support and protection.