Key Definitions - The nature and variety of living organisms Flashcards
define cell.
the basic building block of all living organisms that are made up of organelles
define eukaryotic cell.
a type of cell found in animal, plant, fungi and protoctist cells that contain a nucleus
define animals.
a kingdom where all organisms are multicellular, do not photosynthesize, no cell walls and store their carbohydrates as glycogen
define plants.
Multicellular, cells do contain chloroplasts, so photosynthesize, do contain cell walls and store carbohydrates as starch
define fungi.
no photosynthesis, feed via saprotrophic nutrition, composed of mycelium which consists of many hyphae, can be both multi and unicellular (yeast), contain cell walls and store carbohydrates as glycogen
define protoctists.
microscopic, single celled organisms
define prokaryotic cell.
a cell found in the bacteria kingdom that does not contain a nucleus
define bacteria.
single celled, prokaryotic (no nucleus) organisms, contain a cell wall and plasmids
define virus.
a non-living organism that can only reproduce inside host cells (parasitic). They have no cells and contain a protein coat and nucleic acids (DNA or RNA)
define unicellular.
an organism made up of a single cell (bacteria and protoctista)
define amoeba.
Protoctists that live in pond water and resemble animal cells with chloroplasts
define chlorella.
a protoctist that has features similar to plant cells, e.g. chloroplasts
define chloroplast.
an organelle that is the site of photosynthesis
define DNA.
a double stranded molecule made of nucleotides, wound in a double helix shape, carrying the genetic code
define human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
a virus that weakens the immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
define influenza.
an infectious virus that causes the flu
define hyphae.
long filaments of a fungus that contain many nuclei
define lactobacillus bulgaricus.
a rod-shaped bacteria, used to produce yoghurt from milk
define MRS H GREN
the characteristics an organism must have to be classed as living; Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity (to their environment), Homeostasis, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition
define mucor.
a multicellular fungus that has many hyphae
define multicellular.
refers to an organism that is made up of more than one cell. These organisms are only found in animals, plants and some fungi.
define mycelium.
a collection of thread-like hyphae in fungus
define pathogens.
microorganisms that cause disease to its host that can include bacteria, protoctists, fungi and viruses
define photosynthesis.
a reaction where energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplasts by light to produce glucose
define plasmids.
loops of DNA found in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic cells
define plasmodium.
pathogenic protoctists that cause malaria
define pneumococcus.
a spherical, pathogenic bacteria that causes pneumonia
define saprotrophic nutrition.
the mode of extracellular nutrition in which digestive enzymes are secreted onto food outside of the cell and the products of digestion are absorbed
define yeast.
a single celled fungus
define tobacco mosaic virus (TMV).
a plant pathogen which produces a mosaic pattern on the leaves, infecting chloroplasts and limits plant growth
