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Biology > 1. Characteristics of and classification of living organisms > Flashcards

1. Characteristics of and classification of living organisms Flashcards

1.1 Characteristics of living organisms 1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems 1.3 Features of organisms

1
Q

Movement

A

One of the characteristics of living things. The action that causes the organism to change position.

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2
Q

Tropisms

A

A response by a plant to a stimulus.

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3
Q

Respiration

A

Chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules to release energy.

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4
Q

Respiration, Formula

A

glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

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5
Q

Sensitivity

A

Ability to sense and respond to a change in the environment. One of the characteristics of living things.

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6
Q

Stimulus

A

(plural: stimuli) A change in the environment that can be detected by an organism. eg. Light, sound, touch, temperature, chemicals.

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7
Q

Growth

A

One of the characteristics of living things. The action that creates a permanent increase in size and dry mass.

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8
Q

Dry mass

A

The mass of a biological sample after the water content has been removed.

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9
Q

Reproduction

A

One of the characteristics of living things. The action of an organism that creates more of the same species.

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10
Q

Species

A

A group of similar organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

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11
Q

Asexual reproduction

A

Reproduction only involving one parent (bacteria multiplying)

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12
Q

Excretion

A

The removal of the waste products of metabolism, toxic materials and substances in excess of requirements from the body. (Both animals and plants –> oxygen excreted biproduct of respiration in plants.)

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13
Q

Metabolism

A

All the chemical reactions that happen inside living cells, including respiration.

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14
Q

Egestion

A

Process of passing out food that has not been digested or absorbed in the form of faeces.

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15
Q

Nutrition

A

One of the characteristics of living. The input of materials by an organism for energy, growth and development.

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16
Q

Nutrients

A

Materials that are consumed by organisms for nutrition. Examples are fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

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17
Q

Photosynthesis

A

The chemical process by which plants manufacture carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light.

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18
Q

Characteristics of living (mnemonic)

A

M ovement
R espiration
S ensitivity

G rowth
R eproduction
E xcretion
N utrition

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19
Q

Kingdom

A

A broad level for classifying organisms. All living organisms are within five kingdoms.

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20
Q

Classification (mnemonic)

A

King - Kingdom
Philip - Phylum
Came - Class
Over - Order
For - Family
Good - Genus
Sex - Species

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21
Q

Binomial system

A

The system used to name organisms by their genus and species.

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22
Q

Dichotomous Key

A

A tool used to identify organisms using a series of questions, each with only two answers.

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23
Q

Evolutionary relationships

A

The relationship between organism based upon their evolution through time.

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24
Q

Common ancestor

A

Two or more species can be linked back in evolutionary time to another ancient species. Both have this species as a common ancestor.

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25
Q

Homologous structures

A

Similar physical features in organisms that share a common ancestor, but the features serve completely different functions

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26
Q

DNA

A

A large molecule made from bases, and which carries genetic information in the form of genes. (Order of bases determines amino acid sequences in proteins)

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27
Q

Inheritance

A

The transmission of genetic information from generation to generation.

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28
Q

Amino Acids

A

Small molecule that makes up proteins.

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29
Q

Prokaryotes

A

Unicellular organisms that do not have a proper nucleus enclosing their genetic material. (eg. Bacteria)

All other four kingdoms have cells with nucleus (singlecellular and multicellular)

30
Q

How many kingdoms are there?

A

5
Prokaryotes
Protoctist/Protist
Animal
Plant
Fungus

31
Q

Animals (Key Features - What type of cells do they have etc?)

A

Multicellular
No cell walls or chloroplasts
Usually can move their whole body from place to place
Ingest food (heterotrophic)

32
Q

Heterotrophic

A

Describes organisms that ingest food by eating other organisms. All mammals and most animals are heterotrophic.

33
Q

Plants (Key Features)

A

Multicellular
Have cell walls and chloroplasts
Usually cannot move their whole body from place to place
Make their own food by photosynthesis (autotrophic)

34
Q

Autotrophic

A

Describes organisms that produce their own food. Most plants are autotrophic.

35
Q

Vertebrates (Def + Groups)

A

Fish
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals.

An animal with a backbone. (backbone –> spinal column) (spinal cord –> nerves inside backbone)

36
Q

Invertebrates

A

Animals that do not possess a backbone. Non-vertebrates.

37
Q

Fish (Features)

A

Cold blooded + aquatic animals.
Breathe with gills, gills covered and protected by a bony flap called operculum.
Body covered with scales.
Fins help fish to swim in water, streamlined minimises resistance.
Eggs laid in water + external fertilisation

38
Q

Amphibians (Features)

A

Cold blooded.
Slimy, moist skin + no scales.
Eggs laid in water + external fertilisation.
Adults live mostly on land / go to water to lay eggs.
Eggs hatch into tadpoles –> live in water. Tadpoles metamorphose into adults.
Adult amphibians have lungs + through skin, moist skin helps in breathing
Tadpoles breathe using gills.

39
Q

Reptiles (Key Features)

A

Cold blooded (often bask in sun).
Body covered in scales/plates to prevent water loss.
Reptiles breathe using lungs.
Most reptiles have four limbs/legs. Each limb has five toes with claws.
Fertilisation is internal –> leathery shells on eggs to prevent drying out –> laid on land unlike amphibians.

40
Q

Birds (Key Features)

A

Warm Blooded + (usually) adapted for flight.
Breathe with lungs.
Body covered in feathers (down/contour/quill)
Streamlined shpae - reduce resistance
Forelimbs modified to wings. Hindlimbs (feet) scaly + claws for perching, hunting etc.
Beaks to feed, adpated to diet.
Internal fertilisation + Hard egg shells.

41
Q

Mammals (Key Features)

A

Warm blooded + breathe using lungs.
Habitats include land + water.
Body covered with fur/hair.
External ear/pinna.
Give birth to live young ones (exception platypus etc.)
Feed young with milk produced by mammary glands.

42
Q

Arthropods

A

Invertebrate animals with jointed legs and body sections. Includes spiders, insects and crabs. (Have exoskeletons)

43
Q

Exoskeleton

A

A hard skeleton that forms the outer surface of some non-vertebrate animals such as arthropods.

44
Q

Body parts of arthropods

A

Head, Thorax, Abdomen

45
Q

Thorax

A

The chest cavity that protects some of the main internal organs such as the heart and lungs. Muscle contractions in the thorax allows for ventilation.

46
Q

Abdomen

A

Central body part. Specialises in digestion, reproduction and excretion.

47
Q

Arthropod Groups

A

Insects
Arachnids
Crustaceans
Myriapods

48
Q

Antennae

A

Long, thin rods on the heads of arthropods used for sensing the environment.

49
Q

Insects (Features)

A

6 (three pairs) legs.
Three body parts - Head, Thorax, Abdomen
One pair of Antenna
One or two pairs of wings
eg. Beetle

Pair of large compound eyes.
Bodies covered in hard cuticle (prevents drying out).

50
Q

Arachnids

A

8 (four pairs) legs.
two body parts - Cephalothorax (- thorax + head), Abdomen.
No antennas.
No wings.
eg. Spider

No compound eyes. Multiple pairs of simple eyes.
Chelicrae (pincers)
Pedipalps (transfers sperm to female)

51
Q

Crustaceans

A

10 (5 pairs) legs or more.
Two body parts - Cephalothorax, Abdomen.
Two pairs of Antenna
No wings.
eg. Shrimp

One pair of compound eyes.
Exoskeleton forms a carapace (hard shell)
Legs on head modified for feeding.

52
Q

Myriapods

A

Many legs (one or two pairs per body segment).
Many body parts (no distinct thorax and abdomen regions)
One pair of antennas
No wings
eg. Centipede.

Has distinct head.
Simple eyes.

53
Q

Chelicerae

A

Pincer-like mouthparts found in arachnids.

54
Q

Pedipalps

A

Second pair of appendages found in some arthropods. In arachnids they are specialised to sense objects as well as used by male spiders to transfer sperm to females.

55
Q

Saprotrophs

A

Organisms that digest food outside their bodies and then ingest the breakdown products. Examples are spiders.

56
Q

Fungus (Key Features)

A
  • Can be both unicellular and multicellular
  • Can be both heterotrophs and saprotrophs

A kingdom of organisms that includes moulds, yeasts and mushrooms.

Made of hyphae instead of cell.

Fungi externally digest than absorb.

57
Q

Hyphae

A

The structural cells that form fungi. Threadlike structures that spread out as the fungus grows.

58
Q

Digestive enzymes

A

Biological catalysts that react with food to aid digestion.

59
Q

Prokaryote (Key Features)

A
  • Unicellular
  • Most are heterotrophs but they can be autotrophs.
  • Examples include bacteria.
  • They have NO nucleus and have a cell wall which is not made of cellulose
60
Q

Protoctist (Key Features)

A
  • Most are unicellular but they can be multicellular
  • Can be either heterotrophs or autotrophs
  • All protoctists have a nucleus in their cells.
61
Q

Virus

A
  • They are not made of cells
  • Don’t have a cell membrane or cytoplasm
  • Don’t show any of the seven characteristics of living organisms.
  • Viruses consist of a protein coat surrounding genetic material
  • To reproduce, they insert their genetic material into a living cell (the host cell), and use the material of the host cell to make new viruses.
62
Q

Monocotyledons

A

Plants that produce one cotyledon (embryonic leaf) when their seeds germinate.

63
Q

Dicotyledons

A

Describes a flowering plant that has broad leaves with a network of veins. Produces two cotyledons when seeds germinate.

64
Q

Cotyledon

A

The embryonic leaf of the plant embryo. It contains a food store (endosperm) so that the plant can grow until it is able to begin photosynthesis.

65
Q

Seeds - Monocots vs Dicots

A

Monocots

  • One cotyledon

Dicots

  • Two cotyledons
66
Q

Benefits of seeds

A

Transport - Can be transported by animals (eg. digestive system/ hooks onto fur) etc.

Dormancy - Only germinate with the right conditions (water, rising temperatures and oxygen for respiration)

Protection - Don’t break down easily

67
Q

Leaf structure - Monocot vs Dicot

A

Monocot

  • Parallel

Dicot

  • Network of veins
68
Q

Petal numbers - Monocots vs Dicots

A

Monocots

  • Multiples of 3

Dicot

  • Multiples of 4 or 5
69
Q

Leaf shape - Monocots vs Dicots

A

Monocots

  • Narrow and long

Dicots

  • Broad and short
70
Q

Vascular bundles - Monocot vs Dicot

A

Monocot

  • Scattered in the stem

Dicot

  • Arranged in a ring around the stem
71
Q

Roots - Monocots vs Dicots

A

Monocots

  • Fibrous roots

Dicots

  • Tap roots

Biology (21 decks)

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