Classification Flashcards
What are the characteristics of living organisms?
Movement, respiration, nutrition,growth and development, reproduction,excretion, sensitivity
What is movement?
MOVEMENT is an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change in position or place
What are the 2 types of movement done by plants?
Phototropism and gravitopism
What is phototropism?
Movement of leaves towards sunlight
What is gravitopism?
Movement of roots towards gravity (deeper/downwards)
What is respiration?
RESPIRATION is the chemical reaction in cells that breaks down nutrient molecules and releases energy for metabolism.
What is nutrition?
NUTRITION is the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development.
Explain the types of nutrition?
Autotrophism- When organisms make their own food.
Heterotrophism- When organisms rely on other organisms for food.
What is growth and development?
GROWTH is a permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism by an increase in cell no. or cell size of both.
DEVELOPMENT is maturity of body parts overtime.
What is reproduction?
REPRODUCTION is the process that makes more of the same type of organism.
What is excretion?
EXCRETION is the removal from organisms, waste products of metabolism, toxic materials and substances in excess of requirement. Respiration and other chemical changes in the cells produce waste products such as CO2 which is expelled from the body.
What is sensitivity?
SENSITIVITY refers to the ability of an organism to detect and respond to changes in its environment such as light, temperature, touch, sound, chemicals and pain.
State two differences between vertebrates and arthropods.
1️⃣ Vertebrates have an internal skeleton (endoskeleton), while arthropods have an external skeleton (exoskeleton) made of chitin.
2️⃣ Vertebrates have a backbone (vertebral column), whereas arthropods lack a backbone and have segmented bodies with jointed limbs.
Describe two ways in which bacteria and viruses differ in their structure and reproduction.
1️⃣ Structure: Bacteria are cells with a cell wall, cytoplasm, and circular DNA, while viruses are non-cellular particles consisting of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat (capsid), without a cytoplasm or cell structures.
2️⃣ Reproduction: Bacteria reproduce independently by binary fission, dividing into two identical cells, whereas viruses cannot reproduce on their own and must infect a host cell to replicate by using the host’s machinery.
Describe three characteristics that all plants share.
1️⃣ All plants produce their own food through photosynthesis, using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make glucose and oxygen, making them autotrophic.
2️⃣ Plant cells have rigid cell walls made of cellulose, which provide structural support and help maintain their shape.
3️⃣ All plants are multicellular organisms with eukaryotic cells (having a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles).
State the seven characteristics of living organisms.
1️⃣ Movement – The ability to change position or move parts of the body.
2️⃣ Respiration – The process of releasing energy from food.
3️⃣ Sensitivity – The ability to detect and respond to stimuli in the environment.
4️⃣ Growth – The increase in size and complexity over time.
5️⃣ Reproduction – The production of offspring to continue the species.
6️⃣ Excretion – The removal of metabolic waste products from the body.
7️⃣ Nutrition – The intake of nutrients for energy, growth, and repair.
Explain why viruses are not considered living organisms.
1️⃣ They are not made of cells – Viruses consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat, lacking a cytoplasm, nucleus, or organelles.
2️⃣ They cannot reproduce independently – Viruses must invade a host cell and use its machinery to replicate, unlike living organisms that reproduce on their own.
3️⃣ They do not carry out metabolism – Viruses do not perform respiration, excretion, or nutrition, as they do not have the necessary cellular structures for these processes.
State two differences between vertebrates and invertebrates.
Presence of Backbone: Vertebrates have a backbone (vertebral column), while invertebrates lack a backbone.
Size and Complexity:
Difference in Size: Vertebrates are generally larger and more complex animals, often with advanced organ systems (e.g., a developed nervous system, circulatory system, etc.).
State one characteristic of birds that is not present in mammals.
Feathers – Birds have feathers, which help with flight, insulation, and display, whereas mammals have hair or fur instead.
State two characteristics of arthropods.
1️⃣ Exoskeleton: Arthropods have a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton) made of chitin, which provides protection and support.
2️⃣ Jointed Appendages: They have jointed legs and body segments, allowing for flexibility and movement.
3️⃣ Segmented Body: Arthropods have a body divided into segments, typically organised into head, thorax, and abdomen or cephalothorax and abdomen in some groups.
4️⃣ Bilateral Symmetry: They exhibit bilateral symmetry, meaning their body can be divided into two equal halves along a central axis.
Name the four main groups of arthropods and give one example of each.
1️⃣ Insects – Example: Butterfly 🦋
2️⃣ Arachnids – Example: Spider 🕷️
3️⃣ Crustaceans – Example: Crab 🦀
4️⃣ Myriapods – Example: Centipede 🐛
How do insects differ from arachnids?
1️⃣ Number of Legs: Insects have six legs (three pairs), while arachnids have eight legs (four pairs).
2️⃣ Body Segments: Insects have three body segments (head, thorax, and abdomen), whereas arachnids have two body segments (cephalothorax and abdomen).
3️⃣ Antennae: Insects have one pair of antennae, while arachnids do not have antennae.
4️⃣ Wings: Many insects have wings for flight, whereas arachnids never have wings.
State three differences between bacteria and viruses.
1️⃣ Cellular Structure: Bacteria are living cells with a cell wall, cytoplasm, and circular DNA, while viruses are non-cellular particles consisting of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat (capsid), without a cytoplasm or organelles.
2️⃣ Reproduction: Bacteria reproduce independently by binary fission, dividing into two identical cells, whereas viruses cannot reproduce on their own and must infect a host cell to replicate by using the host’s machinery.
3️⃣ Metabolism: Bacteria carry out metabolic processes like respiration and excretion, while viruses do not perform any metabolism and remain inactive outside a host.
State two differences between flowering plants and ferns.
1️⃣ Reproduction: Flowering plants reproduce using seeds enclosed in fruits, while ferns reproduce using spores found on the underside of their leaves.
2️⃣ Presence of Flowers: Flowering plants produce flowers for reproduction, whereas ferns do not have flowers and rely on spores for reproduction.
How do flowering plants reproduce, and how is this different from ferns?
Flowering plants reproduce through seeds formed inside fruits after fertilization. Their reproduction involves pollination, where pollen from the male part (stamen) is transferred to the female part (carpel), leading to fertilization and seed formation.
In contrast, ferns reproduce using spores instead of seeds. Spores are produced in structures called sporangia, usually found on the underside of fern leaves. When released, spores grow into gametophytes, which produce sperm and egg cells for fertilization, completing the life cycle.
The key difference is that flowering plants use seeds and flowers for reproduction, whereas ferns reproduce through spores and do not produce flowers or seeds.
List the five kingdoms of living organisms and give one distinguishing feature of each.
1️⃣ Kingdom Monera (Prokaryotae) – Includes bacteria, which are unicellular and lack a nucleus (prokaryotic).
2️⃣ Kingdom Protista (Protoctista) – Includes unicellular eukaryotes like amoeba and paramecium, which have a nucleus but are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
3️⃣ Kingdom Fungi – Includes mushrooms, molds, and yeast, which are heterotrophic and obtain nutrients by external digestion (saprotrophic nutrition).
4️⃣ Kingdom Plantae – Includes plants, which are autotrophic (photosynthetic) and have cell walls made of cellulose.
5️⃣ Kingdom Animalia – Includes animals, which are multicellular, heterotrophic, and lack cell walls.
Explain why viruses do not fit into any of the five kingdoms.
1️⃣ Not Made of Cells: All organisms in the five kingdoms are cellular (either prokaryotic or eukaryotic), but viruses are non-cellular and only consist of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat.
2️⃣ No Metabolism: Living organisms perform metabolic activities like respiration and excretion, but viruses do not carry out any metabolism on their own.
3️⃣ Cannot Reproduce Independently: Unlike bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals, which reproduce on their own, viruses can only reproduce inside a host cell, using the host’s machinery.
State two general characteristics of arthropods.
1️⃣ Exoskeleton: Arthropods have a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton) made of chitin, which provides protection and support.
2️⃣ Jointed Appendages: They have jointed legs and body segments, allowing for flexibility and movement.
How do insects and arachnids differ in the following features?
* Number of legs
* Body segments
* Presence of antennae
1️⃣ Number of Legs:
Insects have six legs (three pairs).
Arachnids have eight legs (four pairs).
2️⃣ Body Segments:
Insects have three body segments: head, thorax, and abdomen.
Arachnids have two body segments: cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) and abdomen.
3️⃣ Presence of Antennae:
Insects have one pair of antennae.
Arachnids do not have antennae.
Vertebrates are classified into five major classes. Name these five classes.
fish, reptiles, mammals, birds, amphibians
State two characteristics that are unique to mammals.
1️⃣ Mammary Glands: Mammals have mammary glands that produce milk to nourish their young.
2️⃣ Hair or Fur: All mammals have hair or fur on their bodies at some stage of their life, which helps with insulation and protection.
State three structural differences between bacteria and fungi.
1️⃣ Cell Type:
Bacteria are prokaryotic (lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles).
Fungi are eukaryotic (have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles).
2️⃣ Cell Wall Composition:
Bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan.
Fungi have cell walls made of chitin.
3️⃣ Cellular Structure:
Bacteria are unicellular and exist as single cells or colonies.
Fungi can be unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (molds, mushrooms) with a network of thread-like structures called hyphae.
State three differences between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.
Number of Cotyledons (Seed Leaves):
Monocots have one cotyledon in their seeds.
Dicots have two cotyledons in their seeds.
Leaf Venation:
Monocots have parallel veins in their leaves.
Dicots have branched (net-like) veins in their leaves.
Flower Parts:
Monocots have flower parts in multiples of three (e.g., 3, 6, or 9 petals).
Dicots have flower parts in multiples of four or five (e.g., 4, 5, or more petals).
Give one example of a monocot and one example of a dicot.
monocot- Maize
dicot- Bean
Explain how fish are adapted to living in water?
Fish have a streamlined shape to reduce water resistance, allowing them to move efficiently through water.
Instead of lungs, fish have gills that extract oxygen from water, enabling them to survive underwater.
Fins for movement and stability
Fish have a lateral line, a sensory system that detects vibrations and movement in the water, helping them sense predators and navigate in their environment.
Why is classification important in biology? Give two reasons.
- Classification organises living organisms into groups based on similarities and differences, making it easier for scientists to identify, study, and understand the vast diversity of life.
- By grouping organisms based on shared characteristics, classification reveals evolutionary links between species, helping scientists understand how different organisms are related and how they evolved over time.
Scientists use binomial nomenclature to name organisms. What are the two parts of a scientific name?
the Genus and species
The scientific name for a domestic cat is Felis catus. What does the first part of the name represent?
The Genus
Why is Latin used for scientific names?
- Latin is a dead language, meaning it does not change over time. This ensures that scientific names remain consistent and universally understood by scientists worldwide, regardless of their native language.
- Common names vary by region and language, but Latin names provide a standardised naming system that prevents misunderstandings when identifying species.
State three differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus; their genetic material is found in the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus where DNA is enclosed within a membrane.
Prokaryotic cells are simpler and lack membrane-bound organelles (e.g., mitochondria, Golgi apparatus). Eukaryotic cells are more complex and contain membrane-bound organelles that perform specialised functions.
Prokaryotic cells are smaller (typically 0.1–5 µm in size). Eukaryotic cells are larger (typically 10–100 µm in size).
Give one example of a prokaryotic organism and one example of a eukaryotic organism.
E.coli and Humans
Are viruses more similar to prokaryotic cells or eukaryotic cells, and why?
Viruses are more similar to Prokaryotic cells because:
1️⃣ Lack of a Nucleus
2️⃣ Small Size
3️⃣ Simple Structure
Which feature is found in all fish?
A. Dry scaly skin
B. Lungs
C. External ears
D. Gills
D- Gills
Which arthropod has four pairs of legs?
A. Crab
B. Mosquito
C. Spider
D. Centipede
B- Mosquito
