Characteristics, Diversity, and Classification

Question 1

Characteristics of Life

Answer 1

1. Exhibits movement
2. Responds to their environment (reacts to stimuli)
3. Undergoes growth and development
4. Has a lifespan
5. Has a metabolism
6. Adapts and evolves
7. Reproduces
8. Maintains a balance with external environment (homeostasis)
9. Contains hereditary material
10. Cellular organization

Question 2

Biodiversity

Answer 2

The number and variety of species and ecosystems on Earth

Question 3

Genetic Diversity

Answer 3

Individuals of a species that reproduce sexually and inherit unique combinations of traits from their parents

Question 4

Species Diversity

Answer 4

Variety of species in an area and the total population of each of these species

Question 5

Structural Diversity

Answer 5

The range of the physical structure of a habitat or ecosystem that the organisms are in (ex. rocks, reefs, logs, etc.)

Question 6

Taxonomy

Answer 6

The science of identifying and classifying all organisms (living and fossilized) –> some ways to classify: morphology (physical traits), behaviour, geographic location

Question 7

Carl Linnaeus

Answer 7

The “father” of taxonomy - established classification system and naming system called “binomial nomenclature”

Question 8

Binomial Nomenclature

Answer 8

Means “two names”, in the order “Genus species”
Both names in italics or underlined, first letter capitalized (ex. Homo sapiens)

Question 9

Traditional Taxonomic Levels

Answer 9

Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species
*Kids Play Catch Over Farmer Green’s Shed
(modern system adds domain before kingdom)

Question 10

Genus

Answer 10

A group of organisms that are closely related and have similar characteristics (ex. Rosa)

Question 11

Species

Answer 11

A group of organisms that look alike and are so similar that they can interbreed and produce fertile offspring (ex. Rosa canina)

Question 12

Dichotomous Key

Answer 12

A way of classifying organisms based on physical characteristics (PRACTICE MAKING THEM)

Question 13

Evolution

Answer 13

The scientific theory that describes change in a species over time and their shared ancestry

Question 14

Phylogeny

Answer 14

The study of evolutionary relatedness between, and among, species

Question 15

Phylogenic Tree

Answer 15

A diagram depicting evolutionary relationships between different species or groups

Question 16

Clade

Answer 16

A taxonomic group that includes a single common ancestor and all its descendants

Question 17

The Linnaean Classification System

Answer 17

Originally only recognized two kingdoms (plants and animals), but with increased use of microscopes, new microorganisms were discovered and a better understanding was gained of the cellular structure of living things –> one discovery was that of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

Question 18

Prokaryotes

Answer 18

A single-celled organism without membrane-bound organelles –> bacteria and archaea
- “free DNA” (not in nucleus)
- can only be single-celled
- divides by fission (cloning)
- smaller size

Question 19

Eukaryotes

Answer 19

Any organism where cells contain organelles –> animals, plants, protists, and fungi
- DNA in nucleus
- can be single or multicellular
- divides by mitosis
- larger size

Question 20

Domains of Life

Answer 20

In 1966, Carl Woese completed a detailed analysis which revealed all organisms can be classified into 3 distinct groups:
1. Eubacteria: only kingdom Eubacteria
2. Archaea: only kingdom Archaea
3. Eukarya: Animal, Plant, Protist, and Fungi kingdoms