Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms - key terms

Question 1

Define movement

Answer 1

an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

Question 2

Define respiration

Answer 2

the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

Question 3

Define sensitivity

Answer 3

the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment

Question 4

Define growth

Answer 4

a permanent increase in size and dry mass

Question 5

Define reproduction

Answer 5

the processes that make more of the same kind of organism

Question 6

Define excretion

Answer 6

the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements

Question 7

Define nutrition

Answer 7

the taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development

Question 8

Define species

Answer 8

a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Question 9

Define the sequence of classification

Answer 9

Kingdom → Phylum → Classes → Orders → Families → Genus → Species. [ remember, King Philip, Come Over For Good Soup]

Question 10

Define Genus species

Answer 10

The genus is capitalised, and the species are not.

Question 11

The Five Kingdoms: Define animals

Answer 11

Multicellular ingestive heterotrophs (eat living organisms). Ex: cat, ladybird, newt, etc.

Question 12

The Five Kingdoms: Define plants

Answer 12

Multicellular photosynthetic autotrophic (make their food) organism with a cellulose cell wall and chloroplasts. Ex: cactus, oak tree.

Question 13

The Five kingdoms: Define Fungi

Answer 13

Single-celled or multicellular heterotrophic and saprotrophic organisms with cell walls not made of cellulose, spread by spreading spores in moist/dark/warm environments. Most have hyphae and mycelium in structure. Ex: yeast, mushrooms.

Question 14

The Five Kingdoms: Define Prokaryotes

Answer 14

Single-celled organisms with no true nucleus or DNA in the cytoplasm. Many also have plasmids. Ex: E.coli, Salmonella.

Question 15

The Five Kingdoms: Define Protist or Protoctist

Answer 15

Single-celled organism with a nucleus. Eukaryotes. Some are multicellular. Ex: Amoeba, seaweed.

Question 16

Type of vertebrates: (they have a backbone) Define the features of a mammal

Answer 16

Fur on the skin, External ears (pinna), Internal fertilisation, Mammary Glands

Question 17

Type of vertebrates: (they have a backbone) Define the features of a reptiles

Answer 17

Thick, dry, scaly skin, Usually four legs, Internal fertilisation, Soft Shelled Eggs, cold-blooded

Question 18

Type of vertebrates: (they have a backbone) Define the features of a fish

Answer 18

Wet scales, Streamlined body shape, External fertilisation, and soft eggs, cold-blooded

Question 19

Type of vertebrates: (they have a backbone) Define the features of a amphibians

Answer 19

Smooth, moist skin, External fertilisation, and soft eggs, Gills, & Lungs can live on land and water. Most have four legs.

Question 20

Type of vertebrates: (they have a backbone) Define the features of a birds

Answer 20

Feathers on the body and scales on legs, Constant internal body temperature, Hard eggs, Internal fertilisation, birth through eggs

Question 21

Define inverbrates

Answer 21

Organisms that do not have a backbone.

Question 22

Define the features of arthropods

Answer 22

Exoskeleton
Jointed legs
Segmented body

Question 23

Define the features of ferns

Answer 23

Do not produce flowers/seeds
They are plants with roots, stems and feathery leaves
Reproduce by spores

Question 24

Define the features of flowering plants

Answer 24

They are plants with roots, stems and leaves
Reproduce sexually through flowers and seeds
Seeds are produced inside the ovary in the flower

Question 25

Define the features of a Monocotyledons

Answer 25

One cotyledon/One-seed leaf
Parallel veins
Long Narrow Leaf
The Number of Petals is a Multiple of 3
Scattered Vascular Bundles

Question 26

Define the features of Dicotyledons

Answer 26

Two cotyledons/Two-seed leaf
Branching veins
Broad leaves
The Number of Petals is a Multiple of 4 or 5
Ringed Vascular Bundles

Question 27

Define a virus

Answer 27

Viruses are not part of any classification system due to not being considered living things.

Question 28

Define why a virus is not considered a living thing

Answer 28

They do not carry out the seven life processes for themselves; instead, they take over a host cell’s metabolic pathways to make multiple copies of themselves.