1. Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms Flashcards
What are the seven characteristics of a living organism?
1) Movement
2) Respiration
3) Sensitivity
4) Growth
5) Reproduction
6) Excretion
7) Nutrition
Define the term ‘movement’
An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place
Define the term ‘respiration’
The chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.
Define the term ‘sensitivity’
The ability to detect to and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.
Define the term ‘growth’
A permanent increase in size or dry mass.
Define the term ‘reproduction’
The process that makes more of the same kind of an organism.
Define the term ‘excretion’
The removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.
Define the term ‘nutrition’
The taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.
What does metabolism mean?
The set of chemical reactions that take place in the body’s cells that can change food into energy.
What is the main difference between egestion and excretion
Egestion is the discharge of undigested matter leftover from the process of digestion.
Excretion is the discharge of metabolic waste products.
Define the term ‘species’
A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
What are the seven groups under the Linnaen system
1) Kingdom
2) Phylum
3) Class
4) Order
5) Family
6) Genus
7) Species
What are organisms grouped on to reflect evolutionary relationships?
Common ancestors
What are the five main features of the Kingdom ‘Animalia’
1) Multicellular
2) No cell walls
3) Heterotrophic nutrition
4) Complex movement
5) They are eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)
What are the six main features of the Kingdom ‘Plantae’
1) Multicellular
2) Cell walls made of cellulose
3) Autotrophic nutrition
4) Chloroplasts
5) No complex movement
6) They are eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)
What are the five main groups under vertebrates
1) Mammals
2) Birds
3) Reptiles
4) Amphibians
5) Fish
Explain the distinguishing features of mammals. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.
1) Skin covering: Hair or fur
2) Reproduction: Mostly sexual, give birth to live young
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body temperature: Warm- blooded
Explain the distinguishing features of birds. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.
1) Skin covering: Feathers
2) Reproduction: Lay eggs
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body temperature: Warm- blooded
Explain the distinguishing features of reptiles. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.
1) Skin covering: Dry, scaly skin
2) Reproduction: Most lay eggs with leathery shells.
3) Breathing: Lungs
4) Body- temperature - Cold-blooded
Explain the distinguishing features of amphibians. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.
1) Skin covering: Moist, permeable skin
2) Lay eggs in water
3) Young (larvae) have gills; adults usually have lungs
4) Body temperature- Cold-blooded
Explain the distinguishing features of fish. Talk about skin covering, reproduction, breathing and body temperature.
Skin covering: Scales
Reproduction: Lay eggs
Breathing: Gills
Body temperature: Cold-blooded
What are the four main groups under invertebrates
1) Annelids
2) Molluscs
3) Nematodes
4) Arthropods
What are the distinguishing features of annelids (Talk about body structure, movement, body covering and examples)
1) Body structure: Long, segmented bodies
2) Movement: Use muscles and bristles known as setae
3) Body covering- No exoskeleton, soft bodies.
4) Examples: Earthworms, leeches.
What are the distinguishing features of nematodes (Talk about body structure, movement, body covering and examples)
1) Body structure: Long, unsegmented bodies.
2) Movement: Use longitudinal muscles
3) Body covering: Have a tough outer cuticle, but no true exoskeleton
4) Examples: Parisitic worms (e.g; hookworms)
What are the distinguishing features of molluscs (Talk about body structure, body covering and examples)
1) Body structure: Soft, unsegmented bodies.
2) Body covering: Most have a hard shell
3) Examples: Snails, clams, octopuses
What are the distinguishing features of arthropods (what are the three common features)
1) Hard exoskeleton
2) Segmented body
3) Jointed appendages/limbs
What are the four sub-groups of arthropods
1) Crustaceans
2) Insects
3) Arachnids
4) Myriapods
What are the distinguishing features of crustaceans (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)
1) Body segments: Two main body regions (head and cephalothorax)
2) Number of legs: Typically 10 or more legs
3) Antennae: Two pairs of antennae
4) Examples: Crabs, lobsters, shrimp
What are the distinguishing features of myriapods (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)
1) Body segments: Long, segmented body
2) Number of legs: Many legs
3) Antennae: One pair of antennae
4) Examples: Centipedes, millipedes
What are the distinguishing features of arachnids (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae, examples)
1) Body segments: Two main body regions (cephalothorax and abdomen)
2) Number of legs: Four pairs of legs
3) Antennae: No antennae
Examples: Spiders, scorpions, ticks
What are the distinguishing features of insects (talk about body segments, number of legs, antennae)
1) Body segments: Divided into three parts (head, thorax, abdomen)
2) Number of legs: Three pairs of legs
3) Antennae: One pair of antennae
Examples: Butterflies, ants, beetles
What are the distinguishing features of organisms under the kingdom ‘Fungi’
1) Eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)
2) Cell wall: Present (made of chitin)
What is the mycellium in a organism under the kingdom ‘Fungi’
The vegetative part made up of loads of thread like structures called “hyphae”
What are the differences between monocotyledon and dicotyledon (4)
1) Monocotyledons have one seed leaf while dicotyledons have two.
2) The leaves of monocotyledons have branching veins while those of dicotyledons have parallel veins
3) Monocotyledons usually have a taproot system while dicotyledons have a fibrous root system.
What are the two main parts of viruses
1) Capsid (protein coat)
2) Genetic material
Define warm-blooded
The ability to regulate their body temperature independently.
Define cold- blooded
Organisms whose body temperature varies with that of the environment.
