6.1 - Classifying Organisms

Question 1

Define ‘organism’.

Answer 1

An organism is a living system with parts that work together to carry out the processes of life.

Question 2

Define ‘unicellular organism’.

Answer 2

A unicellular organism is an organism made up of only one cell.

Question 3

Define ‘multicellular organism’.

Answer 3

A multicellular organism is an organism that is made up of more than one cell.

Question 4

Define ‘vertebrate’.

Answer 4

Vertebrates are animals with a backbone.

Question 5

Define ‘invertebrate’.

Answer 5

Invertebrates are animals without a backbone.

Question 6

Define ‘fungi’.

Answer 6

Fungi are organisms that usually obtain nutrients from dead or decaying matter and cannot carry out photosynthesis; nutrients are usually absorbed.

Question 7

Define ‘protist’.

Answer 7

A protist is an organism that is neither plant nor animal, but shares many of the same characteristics of both; usually unicellular, but can be multicellular.

Question 8

Define ‘bacteria’.

Answer 8

Bacteria are the most basic of all unicellular organisms; they lack a nucleus.

Question 9

What helps keep the cell alive?

Answer 9

Despite its small size, a cell is an organism whose organelles work together to keep the cell alive.

Question 10

Can unicellular organisms be seen with the naked eye?

Answer 10

Almost all unicellular organisms are so small that they can only be seen using a microscope.

Question 11

What are some examples of multicellular organisms?

Answer 11

Humans and dogs are multicellular organisms made up of trillions of cells.

Question 12

What are the five groups scientists have classified living things in based on their characteristics?

Answer 12

Every organism may be classified into one of five smaller groups: plants, animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria.

Question 13

Are plants multicellular or unicellular? Give some examples of plants as well.

Answer 13

Plants are multicellular organisms. Some examples of plants are trees, grasses, flowers, bushes, vines, misses, and herbs.

Question 14

How do plants get food?

Answer 14

Plants make their own food by photosynthesis.

Question 15

Do plants live on land or in water? Give some examples.

Answer 15

Plants can live on land or in water. Water lilies and Elodea are examples of plants that live in the water. Maple trees and Pine trees are examples of plants that live on land.

Question 16

Are animals multicellular or unicellular?

Answer 16

Animals are multicellular organisms.

Question 17

What are the 2 groups animals can be further divided into?

Answer 17

Animals can be further divided into vertebrates and invertebrates.

Question 18

What are some examples of vertebrates?

Answer 18

Some examples are: a moose, salmon, or blue jay.

Question 19

What are some examples of invertebrates?

Answer 19

Some examples are: a spider, shrimp, or snail.

Question 20

Are there more types of invertebrates or vertebrates?

Answer 20

In general, there are more types of invertebrates than there are vertebrates.

Question 21

How do fungi obtain nutrients?

Answer 21

Fungi are organisms that usually obtain nutrients by absorbing them from dead or decaying matter and cannot carry out photosynthesis.

Question 22

Are fungi multicellular or unicellular?

Answer 22

Most fungi are multicellular, though some are unicellular.

Question 23

What are some examples of fungi?

Answer 23

Field mushrooms and Baker’s yeast are both examples of fungi.

Question 24

Where are protists mostly found?

Answer 24

Protists are commonly found in wet or moist environments such as ponds, rivers, and mud.

Question 25

Are protists multicellular or unicellular?

Answer 25

Protists can be unicellular or multicellular, and have all of the organelles of a typical animal cell.

Question 26

How do protists obtain nutrients? Give examples.

Answer 26

Some protists, like the Volvox,
are plant-like organisms that have chloroplasts and can perform photosynthesis. Common plant-like protists include diatoms and
algae. Other protists are more like animals and cannot perform
photosynthesis. They must obtain food from their environment.
Common animal-like protists include amoebas and paramecia.

Question 27

Are bacteria multicellular or unicellular?

Answer 27

Bacteria are the simplest and most abundant unicellular organisms on Earth.

Question 28

Do bacteria have a nucleus?

Answer 28

No, they don’t have a nucleus.

Question 29

What are bacterial colonies and what is an example of a bacterium that forms colonies?

Answer 29

Although they are unicellular, some types of bacteria gather into groups called bacterial colonies. The bacterium that causes strep throat is an example of a bacterium that forms colonies. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common bacterium.

Question 30

Why is it important for scientists to classify organisms?

Answer 30

It is important because it allows scientists to better understand the diversity of life on Earth.

Question 31

Explain how protists can be either plant-like or animal-like
using examples from the text.

Answer 31

Protists can be both plant-like and animal-like. This is because some of them can perform photosynthesis while others cannot. The ones that can perform photosynthesis are called plant-like protists. For example; Diatoms and Algae. The ones that cannot, are called animal-like protists. For example; Ameobas and Paramecia.

Question 32

True or False - Diatoms are multicellular.

Answer 32

False