Characteristics of Living Organisms and Their Classification

These flashcards explore the characteristics of living organisms and their classification into different kingdoms.

Organisms

Living things that share several common characteristics distinguishing them from nonliving things.

Characteristics of Living Things

Features that help scientists determine if something is alive and how organisms survive.

Archaebacteria

Single-celled prokaryotes that live in extreme environments.

Eubacteria

Diverse single-celled prokaryotes, including common bacteria like E. coli.

Protista

Mostly single-celled eukaryotic organisms, such as amoebas, molds, and algae.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that absorb nutrients from organic matter like mushrooms and yeasts.

Plantae

Multicellular eukaryotic autotrophs that produce their own food through photosynthesis.

Animalia

Multicellular eukaryotic heterotrophs that need to ingest other organisms for food.

Cellular Organization

A key characteristic of living things; all living organisms are made of one or more cells.

Unicellular

Organisms that consist of only one cell.

Multicellular

Organisms that have many specialized cells that work together to form tissues, organs, and systems.