Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

Flashcards for reviewing characteristics and classification of living organisms.

__ is an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.

Movement

__ is defined as the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.

Respiration

__ is the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.

Sensitivity

__ is defined as a permanent increase in size and dry mass.

Growth

__ is the processes that make more of the same kind of organism.

Reproduction

__ is the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.

Excretion

__ is the taking in of materials for energy, growth, and development.

Nutrition

The acronym __ can be used to remember the characteristics of living organisms.

MRS GREN

In the binomial system, the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the and .

genus; species

__ are used to identify unfamiliar organisms based on identifiable features.

Dichotomous keys

In the binomial system, the name of the __ starts with a capital letter.

genus

In the binomial system, the name of the __ starts with a lowercase letter.

species

Classification systems aim to reflect __.

evolutionary relationships

The sequences of __ in DNA are used as a means of classification.

bases

Groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor have base sequences in DNA that are more __.

similar

__ are warm blooded, have four limbs, produce milk and give birth to fully-formed young.

Mammals

__ is a level of classification.

Kingdom

Animals are __ organisms.

multicellular

Animal cells have a cell membrane but no cell or .

wall; chloroplasts

Most animals ingest __ food and digest it internally.

solid

Plants are __ organisms.

multicellular

Plant cells have a cell membrane and an outer cell __.

wall

Plant cells contain and .

chloroplasts; chlorophyll

Plants make their food by __.

photosynthesis

__ are animals that have a backbone.

Vertebrates

All mammals have a __ for breathing.

diaphragm

__ give birth to fully formed young.

Mammals

Mammals produce __ to nourish their young.

milk

__ are cold blooded and have overlapping scales.

Fish

__ allow fish to swim.

Fins

__ are used to extract dissolved oxygen from water by fish.

Gills

The eggs of fish are laid and fertilised __.

externally

__ are cold blooded and land living with dry, scaly skin.

Reptiles

Reptiles lay eggs with a tough, __ shell.

rubbery

__ are warm blooded and have fused vertebrae.

Birds

Birds have __ for flying, insulation, waterproofing, protection and to attract mates.

feathers

Birds lay eggs with __ shells.

hard

__ are cold blooded and have four limbs with moist skin.

Amphibians

__ eggs are fertilised externally.

Amphibian

__ are animals without a backbone.

Arthropods

Insects have a segmented body made of a __, __ and __.

head; thorax; abdomen

Insects have three pairs of __ legs.

jointed

Insects have __ eyes.

compound

Insects have one pair of __.

antennae

Insects have a hard exoskeleton called a __.

cuticle

__ have four pairs of legs and no antennae.

Arachnids

Arachnids have a combined head and thorax called a __.

cephalothorax

__ are used to bite and poison prey by arachnids.

Pedipalps

__ have two pairs of antennae and compound eyes.

Crustaceans

Crustaceans have a __ exoskeleton.

protective

Crustaceans have __ pairs of limbs.

five

__ have a segmented body and a pair of legs on each body segment.

Myriapods

Myriapods have at least __ pairs of legs.

ten

Fungi have thread-like __ instead of cells.

hyphae

The __ form a branching structure called the mycelium.

hyphae

Fungi release enzymes that digest food __.

externally

__ are single celled organisms that do not have a nucleus.

Prokaryotes

__ are single celled organisms that have chromosomes enclosed within a nucleus.

Protoctists

__ have single celled spores and don't produce seeds.

Ferns

Spores are released from __ on the underside of the leaves.

sporangia

__ reproduce by seeds that are formed in flowers.

Flowering plants

__ have one cotyledon inside their seeds and grouped flower parts in threes.

Monocotyledons

__ have two cotyledons inside their seeds and flower parts grouped in fives.

Dicotyledons

__ are a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

Species

The __ includes organisms like bacteria and blue-green algae.

Prokaryote

Viruses reproduce only within the __ of living organisms.

cells

The main groups of vertebrates are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and __.

fish

The main groups of arthropods are myriapods, insects, arachnids, and __.

crustaceans

A permanent increase in size and dry mass is called __.

growth

The ability to detect changes in the environment is __.

sensitivity

The removal of metabolic waste is called __.

excretion

An action causing a change of position is called __.

movement

The reactions releasing energy in cells is __.

respiration

The process of making more organisms is __.

reproduction

Taking in materials for energy and growth is __.

nutrition

Mammals typically have or on their body.

hair; fur

Arachnids have a combined head and thorax called __.

cephalothorax

Unlike other kingdoms, __ are not made of cells but have thread-like hyphae

Fungi

In arthropods, the hard exoskeleton is also known as the __.

cuticle

Ferns do not produce __ but instead produce spores.

seeds

A group of closely related species is classified as a __.

genus

The primates are a classification system based on __.

DNA sequencing

Mammals have __ to maintain body temperature.

warm blood

Reptiles have __ to protects and reduces water loss.

dry scaly skin

Birds have and to manipulate objects.

hard shells; claws and beaks

__ breath using both their lungs and skin.

Most amphibians

Myriapods include and .

millipedes; centipedes

__, __, mushrooms, and toadstools are fungi.

Molds; yeasts

and are protoctists.

Algae; microscopic spores

Viruses have no __, __, cell organelles or cell membrane.

nucleus; cytoplasm

Angiosperms are __ that are formed in flowers.

seeds of flowering plants

__ has a pair of legs on each body segment.

Myriapods

__ do not eat, respire, excrete or grow.

Viruses

Mammals produce __ to nourish their young.

milk

The animal kingdom are__organisms.

multicellular

__ are cold blooded animals that have a backbone

Fish

__, prokaryote, and protoctist kingdoms are in addition to the plant and animal kingdoms.

Fungi

Kingdom is a level of __.

classification

Each species has a __ sequence of base in its DNA.

unique

___ digest their food externally and absorb the nutrients.

Fungi