biology: biological classification

Kingdom Monera

Includes prokaryotic organisms like bacteria.

Kingdom Protista

Eukaryotic unicellular organisms, includes algae and protozoa.

Kingdom Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms with chitinous cell walls.

Kingdom Plantae

Eukaryotic autotrophs with cellulose cell walls.

Kingdom Animalia

Eukaryotic heterotrophs without cell walls.

Viruses

Infectious agents, not classified in kingdoms.

Viroids

Infectious RNA molecules, lack protein coat.

Lichens

Symbiotic association of fungi and algae.

Aristotle's Classification

Early classification based on morphology.

Linnaean System

Two Kingdom classification: Plantae and Animalia.

Eukaryotes

Organisms with membrane-bound nuclei.

Prokaryotes

Organisms without membrane-bound nuclei.

Heterotrophic Nutrition

Organisms that consume other organisms for energy.

Autotrophic Nutrition

Organisms that produce their own food.

Cell Wall Composition

Varies: cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi.

Metabolic Diversity

Bacteria exhibit extensive metabolic capabilities.

Morphological Characters

Physical traits used for classification.

Phylogenetic Relationships

Evolutionary connections among organisms.

Coccus

Spherical-shaped bacteria.

Bacillus

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Vibrio

Comma-shaped bacteria.

Spirillum

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Photosynthetic Autotrophs

Organisms that use sunlight for energy.

Chemosynthetic Autotrophs

Organisms that derive energy from chemical reactions.

Holzoic Nutrition

Type of heterotrophic nutrition involving ingestion.

Saprophytic Nutrition

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter.

Parasitic Nutrition

Organisms that derive nutrients from a host.

Cellular Organization

Refers to the arrangement of cells in organisms.

Archaebacteria

Bacteria thriving in extreme environments.

Halophiles

Archaebacteria living in highly saline conditions.

Thermoacidophiles

Archaebacteria found in hot, acidic springs.

Methanogens

Bacteria producing methane in anaerobic conditions.

Eubacteria

True bacteria with rigid cell walls.

Cyanobacteria

Photosynthetic bacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

Heterocysts

Specialized cells in cyanobacteria for nitrogen fixation.

Chemosynthetic Bacteria

Bacteria using inorganic substances for energy.

Heterotrophic Bacteria

Bacteria that decompose organic matter.

Mycoplasma

Bacteria without a cell wall, smallest living cells.

Chrysophytes

Includes diatoms and golden algae, mostly photosynthetic.

Diatoms

Microscopic algae with silica cell walls.

Diatomaceous Earth

Accumulated deposits of diatom cell walls.

Dinoflagellates

Marine protists with two flagella and cellulose plates.

Red Tides

Rapid multiplication of dinoflagellates causing sea discoloration.

Euglenoids

Freshwater organisms with flexible pellicle instead of cell wall.

Slime Moulds

Saprophytic protists that form plasmodium aggregates.

Protozoans

Heterotrophic protists, often predatory or parasitic.

Amoeboid Protozoans

Protozoans moving via pseudopodia, e.g., Amoeba.

Flagellated Protozoans

Protozoans with flagella, some are parasitic.

Ciliated Protozoans

Protozoans with cilia for movement and feeding.

Sporozoans

Protozoans with spore-like infectious stages.

Plasmodium

Malarial parasite causing malaria in humans.

Fungi

Heterotrophic organisms, diverse in morphology and habitat.

Decomposers

Organisms breaking down dead organic material.

Pathogenic Bacteria

Bacteria causing diseases in humans and animals.

Antibiotics

Substances produced by bacteria to inhibit growth.

Fission

Asexual reproduction method in bacteria.

Hyphae

Thread-like structures forming the body of fungi.

Mycelium

Network of hyphae in fungi.

Coenocytic Hyphae

Hyphae without septa, multinucleated.

Septa

Cross walls in hyphae of fungi.

Chitin

Main component of fungal cell walls.

Saprophytes

Fungi that decompose dead organic matter.

Parasites

Fungi that depend on living hosts.

Symbionts

Fungi living in association with other organisms.

Mycorrhiza

Symbiotic relationship between fungi and plant roots.

Asexual Reproduction

Reproduction without fusion of gametes.

Spores

Reproductive units in fungi, can be asexual or sexual.

Conidia

Asexual spores produced externally on conidiophores.

Sporangiospores

Asexual spores produced in sporangium.

Zoospores

Motile asexual spores in some fungi.

Oospores

Sexual spores formed after fertilization.

Ascospores

Sexual spores produced in asci of ascomycetes.

Basidiospores

Sexual spores produced on basidia of basidiomycetes.

Plasmogamy

Fusion of protoplasm from two gametes.

Karyogamy

Fusion of nuclei from two gametes.

Dikaryon

Cell with two nuclei from compatible mating types.

Dikaryophase

Phase with dikaryotic cells in fungi.

Phycomycetes

Aquatic fungi with coenocytic mycelium.

Ascomycetes

Sac fungi producing ascospores in asci.

Basidiomycetes

Fungi producing basidiospores on basidia.

Deuteromycetes

Imperfect fungi known only by asexual reproduction.

Alternation of Generations

Life cycle alternating between diploid and haploid phases.

Eukaryotic Cells

Cells with a defined nucleus and organelles.

Chloroplasts

Organelles for photosynthesis in plant cells.

Holozoic Nutrition

Ingestion of food for energy and growth.

Capsid

Protein coat protecting viral nucleic acid.

Bacteriophages

Viruses that specifically infect bacteria.

Prions

Infectious proteins causing neurological diseases.

Phycobiont

Algal component in lichen, autotrophic partner.

Mycobiont

Fungal component in lichen, heterotrophic partner.

Five Kingdom Classification

System categorizing life into Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.

Dmitri Ivanowsky

First identified viruses as disease-causing agents.

Contagium vivum fluidum

Term for infectious living fluid, coined by Beijerinek.

Single Stranded RNA

Genetic material in many plant-infecting viruses.

Double Stranded DNA

Genetic material in many bacteriophages.

Glycogen

Stored energy form in animal cells.

Embryological Development

Process following sexual reproduction in animals.

M.W. Beijerinek

Demonstrated viruses could infect healthy plants.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy

Prion disease known as mad cow disease.

Cr-Jacob Disease

Human prion disease analogous to BSE.