1. Unit 1:
The Organisation of Living Things
By Caitlin Foley
“Strep throat” is an
illness caused by a live
bacteria
A turtle hatches
from its shell
Plants are also living
things

2. What do living things do?
• All living things carry out the
basic life processes of
interaction, nutrition, and
reproduction.
– Interaction: When a living
thing detects information in
his or her environment and
reacts to that information.
– Nutrition: When a living thing
takes in essential nutrients
from his or her environment.
These nutrients give him or
her energy and help with
growth and development.
– Reproduction: When living
things create members of their
own species.
Interaction helps animals, such as
these lions, to defend their
territory

3. What are living things made up of?
• All living things are
made up of cells. Cells
are the basic units of
life.
– Unicellular organisms
are living things made
up of only one cell.
– Multicellular organisms
are living things that
have many cells.
• Animal cells and plant
cells are different from
one another.
Yeast is an example of a
unicellular organism

4. Animal Cells
• The membrane surrounds
and protects the cell.
• The cytoplasm is a thick,
clear liquid protected by
the membrane.
– In the cytoplasm, we find
special organelles that carry
out different life processes.
• The nucleus controls
everything that happens
inside the cell. The
nucleus is found inside
the membrane. Diagram of an animal cell

5. Plant Cells
• Plant cells have a rigid cell
wall around the membrane.
The cell wall helps to support
the plant.
• In the cytoplasm of plant cells,
there are special organelles
called chloroplasts. They
contain a green liquid called
chlorophyll. Chlorophyll
carries out photosynthesis by
transforming sunlight and
nutrients into energy.
• Plant cells have a vacuole,
which is like a bag. The
vacuole fills and empties when
the plant loses and gains
water.
Diagram of a plant cell

6. Comparing plant and animal cells

7. How are animals organised?
• Cells: Multicellular organisms have
many types of cells. The cells are
different shapes according to their
function.
– Red blood cells are flat and circular cells
that carry oxygen from the lungs to the
muscles and organs.
– Nerve cells are star-shaped cells that
transmit nerve impluses from different
parts of the body to the brain.
– Reproductive cells enable us to
reproduce. Female reproductive cells are
spherical. Male reproductive cells are oval
with a long tail for swimming.
• Tissue: Cells join together to form
tissue. Each type of tissue has a
specific function.
• Organs: Organs are made up of
different tissues. Each organ has a
specific function.
• Systems: Systems are groups of
organs that work together to
perform a function.
Red blood cells, as they
appear under a
microscope
Nerve cells, as they
appear under a
microscope
Reproductive cells,
as they appear under
a microscope

8. How are plants organised?
• Cells: Plant cells have a rigid cell
wall so they are usually
rectangular or polygonal.
Photosynthesis takes place in leaf
cells. Those cells contain
chlorophyll and a liquid called
sap that is used to make food for
the plant.
• Tissue: Plant tissue, like animal
tissue, is made up of many cells
joined together.
• Organs: Organs are made up of
tissue.
• Systems: Systems are groups of
organ and tissue that are used to
carry out a function.
– Roots: The function of the roots is to
absorb water and nutrients from the
soil. To do this, root cells have root
hairs.
– Stems: The function of the stem is to
support the plant and transport water,
minerals, and sap throughout the
plant. Stem tissue forms rigid tubes
that liquid can pass through easily.
Diagram of the stem and roots of a plant

9. What systems do living things have?
• Animal bodies are made up of
several systems. Animals and
human beings carry out the basic
life processes of interaction,
nutrition, and reproduction with
these systems.
– Nutrition: Some of our systems take
in, use, and transform the substances
that we need to live and grow.
– Interaction: Some of our systems
detect information about the world
and enable us to react to that
information.
– Reproduction: Our reproductive
system enables us to reproduce by
having children.
What basic life processes does
each picture show?
Nutrition
Reproduction
Interaction