Classifications of Living Organisms Flashcards
Name the properties of living organisms.
They are organized, they metabolize, interact with their environment, reproduce, and evolve.
Who discovered bacteria?
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek.
Who proposed the theory of prokaryotes and eukaryotes?
Edourad Chatton.
What does a eukaryotic cell have that a prokaryotic cell doesn’t?
A nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
What are the five kingdoms that Robert Whittaker proposed?
Plantae, fungi, animalia, protista (eukaryotes), and monera (prokaryotes).
Define the kingdom monera.
Consists of primitive, single celled organisms like bacteria, cyanobacteria, and mycoplasma.
Define the kingdom protista.
Consists of single celled eukaryotes that are mostly aquatic. Includes diatoms, euglena, and protozoans.
Define the kingdom fungi.
Consists of thread-like structures called mycelium.
Define the kingdom plantae.
Consists of multicellular eukaryotic plants.
Define the kingdom animalia.
Consists of heterotrophic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls.
What are the classifications proposed under the Domain system by Carl Woese?
Bacteria, archea, and eukarya.
Define the domain eukarya
Organisms that have a membrane-bound nucleus.
Define the domain archea
Organisms that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus and have distinct RNA markers from bacteria. Live in extreme environments.
Define the domain bacteria
Prokaryotic cells, no nuclear membrane.
Name the Linnaean classifications.
Kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
Name a visual method used to identify cells and viruses.
Gram staining.
What does it mean to be gram positive?
A group of bacteria that has structurally less complex and contains more peptidoglycan than the cell walls of gram negative bacteria. These are usually less toxic than gram negative bacteria.
What does it mean to be gram negative?
Bacteria that is structurally more complex and contains less peptidoglycan than gram positive bacteria. More toxic than gram positive bacteria.
Name a non-visual method to identify cells and viruses.
surface molecules (antigens).
What is a pathogen?
Microorganisms, viruses, or cell products that harm us when they reproduce.
Describe fungi pathogens.
They are opportunistic infections; take advantage of weakened immune systems.
Describe protists.
A eukaryote that is not a plant, animal, or fungi.
About what percent of bacteria are pathogenic?
1%.
Define archea.
One of two prokaryotic domains, characterized by being adapted to extreme environments.
Define virus.
An infectious particle incapable of replicating outside of a cell, consisting of an RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protein coat (capsid) and, for some viruses, a membranous envelope.
Define prion.
An infectious agent that is a misfolded version of a normal cellular protein.
What makes prions so dangerous?
They increase in number by converting regular proteins to prions until all of the proteins have been misfolded and no longer work.
What is light microscopy used for?
To give a view of the whole cell.
What is scanning electron microscopy (SEM) used for?
To see whole cells and viruses.
What does TEM stand for?
Transmission electron microscopy.
What is TEM used for?
To see cross sections of cells to view organelles, as well as whole prokaryotic cells, viruses, and macromolecules.
What are 3D reconstructions used for?
To view viruses and macromolecules.
