Variety of Living Organisms

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to the variety of living organisms, especially focusing on plants, animals, fungi, protoctists, and bacteria.

Protoctist

A family of unicellular organisms that can resemble both plants and animals, examples include Amoeba and Chlorella.

Fungi

A kingdom of organisms made of hyphae, using saprotrophic nutrition, and lacking chloroplasts for photosynthesis.

Mycelium

A network of hyphae formed underground in fungi.

Saprotrophic nutrition

A method of obtaining food where organisms feed on decomposed organic matter.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells and some protoctists that conduct photosynthesis.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryotic organisms that can be pathogens or decomposers.

Plasmid

A small, circular double-stranded DNA molecule found in bacteria, often providing genetic advantages.

Peptidoglycan

A polymer that makes up the majority of the bacterial cell wall, composed of sugars and amino acids.

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease.

Amoeba

A unicellular protoctist that is classified as an example of a protist.

Lactobacillus Bulgaricus

A type of bacteria used in the fermentation of milk into yogurt.

Pneumococcus

A bacterial pathogen that can cause pneumonia.

Eukaryotic

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus, includes plants, animals, fungi, and protoctists.

Prokaryotic

Organisms whose cells lack a nucleus, primarily represented by bacteria.

Endocellular enzymes

Enzymes released by fungi to help in the digestion of food.

Hyphae

Thread-like structures that make up the body of fungi.

Multi-cellular organisms

Organisms composed of many cells, such as plants and fungi.

Unicellular organisms

Organisms composed of a single cell, such as bacteria and some protoctists.