03. Domains and kingdoms

What are domains?

The largest taxon

What are the domains?

Eubacteria, archaea and eukaryota

How did domains used to be determined?

Based on rRNA base sequences

How are domains now determined?

Based on similarities in DNA base sequences

What are eubacteria?

Familiar bacteria like E. coli and salmonella, and are prokaryotes

What are archaea?

Bacteria with unusual metabolism e.g. some generate methane. Live in marginal habitats and are prokaryotes

What are eukaryota?

Eukaryotic organisms, including plantae, Animalia, fungi and protoctista

What are kingdoms based on?

Morphological similarities not DNA analysis

What are the kingdoms?

Prokaryota, protoctista, fungi, planta, animalia

What are the main features of prokaryota?

Microscopic, single celled prokaryotes, cell wall made of peptidoglycan or murein and includes bacteria and cyanobacteria

What are the main features of protoctista?

Eukaryotic, single celled, no tissue differentiation

What are the main features of fungi?

Heterotrophic eukaryotes, chitin cell wall, reproduce by spores

What are the main features of planta?

Multicellular eukaryotes, photosynthetic, cellulose cell walls

What are the main features of animalia?

Multi cellular eukaryotes, heterotrophic, no cell wall, nervous coordination