Characteristics, Uses and Relationships of Living Matter for JSS 1

Living Matter

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. identify examples of living matter;
2. classify living matter as plants and animals;
3. describe the characteristics of plants and animals;
4. state the uses and importance of plants and animals;
5. explain the interactions and relationships between living and non-living things in the environment;
6. create albums of plants and animals in their environment etc.

Meaning and Examples of Living Matter

Living matter refers to any organism that possesses life and exhibits the basic life processes.

The environment consists of various objects, some of which have life while others do not. Living matter is distinguished from non-living matter by its ability to perform specific biological functions such as feeding, growing, and reproducing.

Examples of living matter found in the local environment include:

1. Flowering plants such as hibiscus, cowpea, maize, and cassava.
2. Non-flowering plants such as ferns and mosses.
3. Mammals such as goats, cows, dogs, and humans.
4. Birds such as domestic fowls, pigeons, and hawks.
5. Insects such as butterflies, grasshoppers, and honeybees.
6. Aquatic organisms such as tilapia fish and crabs.

Observe the diagram below showing different examples of living matter in a typical Nigerian environment.

Classification of Living Matter

Living matter is broadly classified into two main groups: plants and animals.

This classification is based on observable differences in their structure, mode of nutrition, movement, and response to surroundings. While both groups are alive, they have evolved different ways of surviving and adapting to the environment.

The table below highlights the distinguishing characteristics between plants and animals:

Characteristics of Plants and Animals

All living matter shares common characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things. These characteristics are represented by the acronym MR NIGER D.

The detailed characteristics of living matter are explained below:

Movement

Movement is the ability of an organism to change its position or the position of its parts.

Animals move their entire bodies from one place to another to search for food, escape danger, or find mates. This complete movement is called locomotion. Plants do not undergo locomotion because they are anchored to the soil by their roots. Instead, plants show movement of parts, such as the bending of shoots towards sunlight or the opening and closing of flowers.

Respiration

Respiration is the chemical process by which living organisms break down food substances in their cells to release energy.

Both plants and animals require oxygen for aerobic respiration and release carbon dioxide as a waste product. Animals take in oxygen through respiratory organs such as lungs, gills, or spiracles. Plants exchange gases through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata and pores on their stems called lenticels.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain and utilize food to gain energy, grow, and maintain health.

Plants are autotrophs, meaning they produce their own food through photosynthesis. Animals are heterotrophs, meaning they must consume plants or other animals to obtain energy.

Irritability or Sensitivity

Irritability is the ability of an organism to perceive changes in its environment and respond to them.

The changes in the environment are called stimuli. Animals have highly developed nervous systems and sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin) that allow them to respond rapidly to touch, light, sound, temperature, and chemicals. Plants do not have nervous systems or sense organs, so their responses are slow and chemical-based, such as roots growing towards water.

Growth

Growth is a permanent increase in the size, dry mass, and complexity of an organism.

Growth in animals occurs in all parts of the body and stops when the animal reaches adulthood. In contrast, plants grow continuously throughout their lives, with growth concentrated at the tips of the roots and shoots.

Excretion

Excretion is the removal of metabolic waste products from the body of an organism.

These waste products are toxic if allowed to accumulate. Animals excrete waste products such as urea, carbon dioxide, and excess salts through organs like the kidneys, lungs, and skin. Plants do not have specialized excretory organs; they store waste products in leaves, bark, or fruits, which eventually fall off, or they release gases through the stomata.

Reproduction

Reproduction is the biological process by which living organisms produce offspring of their own kind to ensure the survival of their species.

Animals reproduce sexually by producing eggs or giving birth to live young ones. Plants can reproduce sexually through seeds or asexually through vegetative parts such as stems, roots, and leaves.

Death

Death is the permanent cessation of all biological processes that sustain a living organism.

Every living organism has a limited lifespan. When the cells of an organism permanently stop functioning, the organism dies and becomes non-living matter.

Uses and Importance of Plants and Animals

Plants and animals are essential for the survival of humans and the maintenance of ecological balance.

The primary uses and importance of plants include:

1. Source of Food: Plants provide staple foods such as rice, maize, yam, cassava, fruits, and vegetables which supply essential nutrients to humans and animals.
2. Oxygen Production: During photosynthesis, plants release oxygen into the atmosphere, which is vital for the respiration of animals and humans.
3. Medicinal Value: Many plants, such as neem (Dongoyaro), aloe vera, and ginger, are used to produce traditional and modern medicines to treat diseases.
4. Raw Materials for Industry: Timber from trees is used for construction and furniture. Cotton plants provide fibres for making clothes, and rubber trees provide latex for manufacturing tyres.
5. Environmental Protection: Plant roots bind the soil together, which prevents soil erosion and helps maintain soil fertility.

The primary uses and importance of animals include:

1. Source of Protein: Animals provide meat, fish, eggs, and milk, which are rich sources of protein necessary for growth and tissue repair in humans.
2. Beasts of Burden: Animals like horses, donkeys, and oxen are used for transportation and for ploughing agricultural land.
3. Raw Materials: Animal skins and hides are processed into leather for making shoes, bags, and belts. Sheep wool is used to make warm clothing.
4. Pollination of Crops: Insects like bees and butterflies pollinate flowers, which is necessary for the production of fruits and seeds in agricultural crops.
5. Source of Manure: Animal dung is used as organic manure to enrich the soil with nutrients for plant growth.

Interactions and Relationships Between Living and Non-Living Things

The environment is made up of two main components: biotic components (living things) and abiotic components (non-living things).

Living things do not exist in isolation. They constantly interact with and depend on non-living things in their surroundings to survive. This relationship forms a balanced system in nature.

The key interactions and relationships include:

1. Dependence on Water: All living organisms require water. Plants absorb water from the soil to transport nutrients and perform photosynthesis. Animals drink water to aid digestion, regulate body temperature, and transport substances within their bodies.
2. Dependence on Air: The atmosphere contains gases essential for life. Animals breathe in oxygen for respiration and breathe out carbon dioxide. Plants absorb this carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and release oxygen back into the air.
3. Dependence on Soil: Soil is a non-living component that provides anchorage, water, and mineral nutrients to plants. Many animals, such as earthworms and rodents, also make their homes in the soil.
4. Dependence on Sunlight: Sunlight is the primary source of energy on Earth. Plants capture solar energy to manufacture food. Animals depend on this solar energy indirectly by consuming plants. Sunlight also provides warmth to regulate the body temperature of animals.
5. Modification of the Non-Living Environment: Living things also affect non-living things. For example, plant roots break down rocks into soil over time, and dead plants and animals decay to add organic nutrients to the soil, making it fertile.

Observe the diagram below showing how living things interact with non-living elements in an ecosystem.

How to Create an Album of Plants and Animals

Creating an album of plants and animals helps in identifying, classifying, and studying the diverse organisms within the immediate environment.

The required materials are:

1. A drawing book or a clean scrapbook.
2. A digital camera or a smartphone with a camera.
3. Glue or adhesive tape.
4. A pen, pencil, and ruler.
5. Scissors for cutting out printed pictures.
6. Specimens of pressed leaves or flowers.

The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Explore the school compound, home garden, or local community to locate different plants and animals.
2. Take clear photographs of the plants and animals observed, or collect fallen leaves and flowers to press them.
3. Print the photographs or dry the collected plant specimens by pressing them flat inside a heavy book for a few days.
4. Paste each photograph or pressed specimen onto a separate page of the scrapbook using glue or adhesive tape.
5. Write the common name of the organism at the top of the page.
6. Classify the organism clearly as either a plant or an animal.
7. Write a brief description below the image, including where it was found (habitat), its observable characteristics, and its uses or importance.
8. Keep the album clean, arrange the pages orderly with plants in one section and animals in another, and secure the binding.