Characteristics of Living Organisms

This lesson covers:

  1. Which features all living organisms have in common, namely:
  2. MRS GREN: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition
  3. Why viruses are not classed as living organisms

You can remember the set of features that all organisms have in common using the acronym MRS GREN:


  1. M
  2. Respiration
  3. S
  4. G
  5. R
  6. E
  7. N
ovement
ensitivity
rowth
eproduction
xcretion
utrition

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Illustration of a seedling growing under the sun.

What does growth refer to?

Increase in cell size, or number of cells 

Respond to the surroundings 

Taking in of food

Production of new organisms 

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Which feature of living organisms does 'production of new organisms' refer to?

Reproduction 

Sensitivity 

Nutrition

Growth

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What does excretion refer to?

Release of energy in cells

Respond to the surroundings

Removal of metabolic waste

Taking in of food

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Illustration of a cow eating grass, representing the intake of food in living organisms.

Which feature of living organisms does 'taking in of food' refer to?

Sensitivity 

Nutrition

Respiration

Excretion

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Which of the following are waste products that an animal would need to remove from the body?

(Select all that apply)

Insulin

Urea

Glucose 

Carbon dioxide 

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Which of the following does not count as a living organism? 

Viruses 

Protoctists 

Bacteria 

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