Y10 Variety Of Living Organisms Flashcards
What are the key characteristics of plants?
Plants: these are multicellular organisms
their cells contain chloroplasts and are able to carry out photosynthesis
their cells have cellulose cell walls; they store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose
Examples include flowering plants, such as a cereal (for example, maize), and a herbaceous legume (for example, peas or beans).
What distinguishes animals from plants?
Animal cells have no chloroplasts as they do not photosynthesise - they lack a cell wall - they have nervous coordination, allowing for movement - they store carbs as glycogen - e.g. humans (mammals), they are multicellular organisms and are able to move from one place to another
Describe the structure and function of fungi
Fungi: these are organisms that are not able to carry out photosynthesis
their body is usually organised into a mycelium made from thread-like structures called hyphae, which contain many nuclei
Some examples are single-celled
The cells have walls made of chitin
They feed by extracellular secretion of digestive enzymes onto food material and absorption of the organic products; this is known as saprotrophic nutrition
They may store carbohydrate as glycogen
Examples include Mucor, which has the typical fungal hyphal structure, and yeast, which is single-celled.
What are proticists and give examples?
Microscopic single-celled organisms - some resemble animal cells (eg amoeba) while others have chloroplasts (eg chorella)
A pathogenic example is Plasmodium, which causes malaria
What are the common features of prokaryotic organisms like bacteria?
Microscopic single-celled - have a cell wall, cell membrane, plasmids and cytoplasm - lack a nucleus but have DNA in circular rings - some photosynthesise, most feed off others - e.g. lactobacillus bulgaricus (used in yoghurt)
Define pathogens and list examples
Pathogens are microorganisms that cause infection, including fungi, bacteria, proticists and viruses
Why are the key characteristics of viruses?
Not living organisms; smaller than bacteria; parasitic; reproduce only inside living cells; consist of a protein coat and nucleic acid (DNA or RNA). Examples: tobacco mosaic virus (affects plants), influenza virus (causes flu), and HIV (causes AIDS)
What are the levels of organisation in organisms?
Organelle, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism
Similarities vs differences in plant and animal cells
Similarities: Both are eukaryotic, contain organelles like mitochondria and ribosomes.
Differences: Plant cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, and a large central vacuole; animal cells do not.
What are the characteristics among all living things?
Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition
Give 2 differences in structure between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotic - have plasmids and free-floating genetic material (not enclosed in nucleus), no membrane bound organelles, smaller than eukaryotic cells, eukaryotic - have membrane bound organelles (such as nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria), larger than prokaryotic cells
