Characteristics, Classification & Features of Organisms

Flashcards covering characteristics of living organisms, classification systems, and features of organisms.

Movement

An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

Respiration

The chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy for metabolism

Sensitivity

The ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and to make appropriate responses

Growth

A permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both

Reproduction

The processes that make more of the same kind of organism

Excretion

The removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism, and substances in excess of requirements

Nutrition

The taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development

Species

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring

Binomial System

A way that allows the subdivision of living organisms into smaller and more specialized groups

Sequence of classification

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Classification systems

Systems that aim to reflect evolutionary relationships between species

Five Kingdoms

Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protoctists, Prokaryotes

Animals

Multicellular organisms whose cells contain a nucleus but no cell walls or chloroplasts, and which feed on organic substances made by other living things

Plants

Multicellular organisms whose cells contain a nucleus, chloroplasts, and cellulose cell walls, and which feed by photosynthesis

Mammals

Vertebrates with fur/hair on skin, a placenta, mammary glands, and external ears

Birds

Vertebrates with skin covered in feathers and 2 legs and 2 wings

Reptiles

Vertebrates with dry, fixed scales on skin

Amphibians

Vertebrates with smooth, moist skin and larvae that live in water

Fish

Vertebrates with loose, wet scales on skin and gills to breathe

Invertebrates

Organisms without a backbone

Fungi

Usually multicellular organisms whose cells have nuclei and cell walls not made from cellulose, and which feed by saprophytic or parasitic nutrition

Protoctists

Mostly unicellular organisms, but some are multicellular, all have a nucleus, and some may have cell walls and chloroplasts

Prokaryotes

Often unicellular organisms whose cells have cell walls and cytoplasm but no nucleus or mitochondria

Ferns

Have leaves called fronds and reproduce by spores

Flowering plants

Reproduce sexually by means of flowers and seeds

Monocotyledons

Contain petals in multiples of 3 and have parallel leaf veins

Dicotyledons

Contain petals in multiples of 4 or 5 and have reticulated leaf veins

Virus Structure

Genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a protein coat