Variety of Life Flashcards
Animal
Multicellular organisms that have no cell walls, form zygotes after fertilisation and ingest their food.
Bacteria
Single celled organisms that do not contain any membrane bound organelles and possess circular DNA in chromosomes and plasmids.
Bacterial chromosome
The large loop of DNA found within bacterial cells.
Capsule
An layer found outside the cell wall of in some bacterial species.
Chitin
Chemical that makes up the cell wall of fungi.
Control
The use of homeostasis to maintain constant conditions within an organism.
Envelope
A membrane surrounding some viruses.
Eukaryote
Cell that has a nucleus.
Excretion
Removal of metabolic waste from the body.
Flagellum
Tail-like structure allowing movement in bacteria and sperm.
Fungi
Unicellular or multicellular organisms which possess chitin-containing cell walls, lack chlorophyll, store carbohydrate as glycogen and feed on organic material.
Growth
Increase in size and mass by increasing in cell number and size.
Hyphae
Fine thread like filaments produced by fungi.
Microorganism
A very small organism which can only be seen with a microscope.
Movement
An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or shape.
Multicellular
An organism formed of multiple cells.
Mycelium
The network of hyphae produced by some fungi.
Nutrition
Acquisition of nutrients for energy and growth.
Organ
A group of tissues that carry out a particular function.
Pathgen
A microorganism which causes disease.
Organ system
A group of different organs working together.
Plant
Multicellular organisms who carry out photosynthesis and have cells with cellulose cell walls.
Prokaryote
Cell that has no nucleus.
Protein coat
A protein layer that surrounds the genetic material of a virus.
Protoctist
Microscopic, single celled, organisms which have both plant-like and animal-like features.
Reproduction
Production of offspring.
Respiration
Release of energy from food.
Ribosome
Small structure in cells where protein synthesis happens.
Saprotrophic nutrition
Where digestion takes place outside of the organism e.g. in bacteria and fungi.
Sensitivity
The ability to detect and respond to stimuli.
Stem cell
A cell that is undifferentiated and could form any other type of cell.
Tissue
A groups of cells with similar functions.
Unicellular
An organism which consists of a single cell.
Virus
Small, parasitic, particles which reproduce inside other living cells.
