Unit 1 : Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms Flashcards
Define Movement
an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place
Define Respiration
the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism
Define Sensitivity
the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
Define Growth
a permanent increase in size and dry mass
Define Reproduction
the processes that make more of the same kind of organism
Define Excretion
the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
Define Nutrition
the taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development
Define Species
a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
What is the Sequence of Classification
kingdom → phylum → classes → orders → families → genus → species
Features of Animals
multicellular ingestive heterotrophs (eat living organisms)
Features of Plants
multicellular photosynthetic autotrophic (make their food) organism with a cellulose cell wall and chloroplasts
Features of Fungi
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
Features of Prokaryotes
single-celled organisms with no true nucleus or DNA in the cytoplasm. many also have plasmids
Features of Protists/Protoctists
single-celled organism with a nucleus. eukaryotes. some are multicellular
Features of Mammals (Vertebrates)
fur on the skin, external ears (pinna), internal fertilisation, mammary glands
Features of Reptiles
thick, dry, scaly skin, usually four legs, internal fertilisation, soft shelled eggs
Features of Fish
wet scales, streamlined body shape, external fertilisation, and soft eggs
Features of Amphibians
smooth, moist skin, external fertilisation, and soft eggs, gills, & lungs can live on land and water. most have four legs.
Features of Birds
feathers on the body and scales on legs, constant internal body temperature, hard eggs, internal fertilisation, birth through eggs
3 Standard Features of Arthropods
exoskeleton, jointed legs, segmented body
Features of Crustaceans
four or more pairs of legs (10-14 legs), two body segments (cephalothorax, abdomen), two pairs of antennae, pair of compound eyes
Features of Arachnids
four pairs of legs (8 legs), two body segments (cephalothorax, abdomen), no antenna, multiple pairs of simple eyes
Features of Myriapods
10+ pairs of legs (1 or 2 on each segment), many body segments, one pair of antennae, simple eyes
Features of Insects
3 pairs of legs (6 legs), 3 body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), one pair of antennae, one pair of large compound eyes, 1 or 2 pairs of wings
3 Features of Ferns
- do not produce flowers/seeds
- they are plants with roots, stems and feathery leaves (fronds)
- reproduce by spores
3 Features of Flowering plants
- they are plants with roots, stems and leaves
- reproduce sexually through flowers and seeds
- seeds are produced inside the ovary in the flower
6 Features of Monocotyledons
- one cotyledon / one seed leaf
- parallel veins
- long, narrow leaf
- petals in multiples of 3
- scattered vascular bundles
- fibrous roots
6 Features of Dicotyledons
- two cotyledons / two seed leafs
- branching veins
- broad leaves
- petals in multiples of 4/5
- ringed vascular bundles
- tap roots
3 Features of Viruses
- not considered living, can’t be in a classification system
- don’t carry out 7 life processes, instead take over a host cell’s metabolic pathway to make multiple copies of themselves
- virus structures only contain a genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a protein coat.
