Question

States of matter a boon to man kind

Answer 1

Inventions of science and electrical appliances

Answer 2

All living things share life processes such as growth and reproduction. Most scientists use seven life processes or characteristics to determine whether something is living or non-living.

The table below describes seven characteristics of most living things and contains references to earthworms to explain why we can definitely say that they are 'living'.

Life processExplanationEarthwormsMovementAll living things move in some way. This may be obvious, such as animals that are able to walk, or less obvious, such as plants that have parts that move to track the movement of the sun.Earthworms use circular and longitudinal muscles to move through soil or along surfaces.RespirationRespiration is a chemical reactionthat happens within cells to release energy from food.The food that earthworms eat supplies their body with energy-rich molecules such as glucose. On entering the cells of their body, these molecules are broken down in a series of steps to release energy to be used by the body, producing carbon dioxide and water as waste products.SensitivityThe ability to detect changes in the surrounding environment.Earthworms have light-sensitive cells scattered in their outer skin. Their skin cells are also sensitive to touch and chemicals.GrowthAll living things grow.Earthworms hatch from eggs and can grow up to a metre or more in length! Some earthworms are also able to regrow small parts of their body that have been lost or injured.ReproductionThe ability to reproduce and pass genetic information onto their offspring.Earthworms have both sperm and eggs within their bodies (they are hermaphrodites) but they cannot self-fertilise and need to mate with another individual. After mating, a cocoon containing the fertilised eggs is deposited in the soil.ExcretionGetting rid of waste.Earthworms excrete waste from their anus – the last segment of their body.NutritionThe intake and use of nutrients. This occurs in very different ways in different kinds of living things.Earthworm nutrition comes from a variety of sources, depending on their species. Food types include manure, compost, plant material, fungi, microorganisms and decaying animals. They take in food through their mouths.