Classification of Life and Measurement Systems Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering biological classification, taxonomic levels, the six kingdoms of life, cellular characteristics, and measurement systems based on the lecture notes.

Taxonomy

The science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms in an ordered system based on their characteristics.

Carolus Linnaeus

A Swedish naturalist (1707–1778) known as the 'Father of Taxonomy' who developed the hierarchical classification system and binomial nomenclature.

Binomial Nomenclature

A two-part naming system that uses an organism's genus and species names to create its scientific name.

Eight Levels of Classification

The hierarchical taxonomic ranks ordered from broadest to most specific: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

Dichotomous Key

A chart with a series of choices that guides the user to identify an unknown organism or object.

Domain

The broadest and most inclusive level of classification, consisting of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Autotroph

An organism (producer) that creates its own food through processes such as photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

Heterotroph

An organism (consumer) that cannot make its own food and must eat other organisms to obtain energy.

Prokaryote

A single-celled organism whose cell lacks a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Eukaryote

An organism whose cells contain a distinct nucleus holding its genetic material.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom of multicellular, eukaryotic heterotrophs that ingest food for energy, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom of multicellular, eukaryotic autotrophs that make food using sunlight and are anchored by root systems.

Kingdom Fungi

A kingdom of eukaryotic heterotrophs that act as decomposers by breaking down dead material and absorbing nutrients, including mushrooms, molds, and yeasts.

Kingdom Protista

A highly diverse kingdom of mostly unicellular eukaryotes that can be plant-like, animal-like, or fungus-like.

Kingdom Eubacteria

A kingdom of unicellular, prokaryotic bacteria found almost everywhere, representing the most abundant form of life on Earth.

Kingdom Archaebacteria

A kingdom of unicellular, prokaryotic organisms with specialized internal membranes that enable them to live in extreme environments without oxygen.

Vertebrate

An animal that possesses a backbone, accounting for approximately 5% of all animal species on Earth.

Invertebrate

An animal that lacks a backbone, accounting for approximately 95% of all animal species on Earth.

Vascular Tissue

Long, narrow tubes in certain plants that transport water and nutrients throughout the plant body.

Thermophiles

Archaebacteria that thrive in conditions of extremely high temperature, such as hot springs.

Halophiles

Archaebacteria that flourish in environments with high salt concentrations.

Methanogens

Archaebacteria that produce methane gas and cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.

Metric System

An international system of measurement based on powers of 10, using meters for length, liters for volume, and grams for mass.

Customary System

A measurement system based on historical everyday units, used primarily in the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar.

Length

The measurement of something from one end to the other, with the meter as its base metric unit.

Volume

The measurement of the amount of space taken up by a solid, liquid, or gas, with the liter as its base metric unit.

Mass

The measurement of the amount of matter in an object, with the gram as its base metric unit.