Living Organisms and Taxonomy

Catch key concepts about living organisms, their characteristics, taxonomy, and how they are identified and classified.

Living Organisms

All creatures of all kinds, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

Features that define living organisms, including being made up of cells, requiring food, showing growth, respiration, responding to stimuli, excretion, and reproduction.

Nomenclature

The process to standardize the naming of living organisms.

Binomial Nomenclature

A system of naming organisms using two components: the generic name and the specific epithet.

Taxonomy

The branch of biology dealing with identification, naming, and classification of organisms.

Herbarium

A storehouse of collected plant specimens that are dried, pressed, and preserved.

Botanical Gardens

Collections of living plant species grown for identification and reference.

Museum

A repository containing collections of various plant and animal specimens, preserved for study.

Zoological Parks

Protected environments where wild animals are kept for study and observation.

Taxonomical Aids

Procedures and techniques used to store and preserve information and specimens for identification and classification.

Autotrophs

Organisms, like plants, that can make their own food through photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms, like animals, that cannot make their own food and rely on others for nutrition.

Key (in taxonomy)

Tools used to identify plants and animals based on similarities and differences.