Biological Classification

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to biological classification, including the characteristics of different kingdoms, classification systems, and significant organisms.

Classification

The systematic grouping of living organisms based on shared characteristics.

Morphological Characters

Physical traits used to categorize organisms, such as shape and structure.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus.

Prokaryotes

Organisms whose cells lack a true nucleus.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom that includes all plants, characterized by photosynthesis.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom consisting of multicellular, heterotrophic organisms.

Whittaker's Five Kingdom Classification

A classification system that includes Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Autotrophic

Organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Heterotrophic

Organisms that consume organic material for nourishment.

Kingdom Monera

The kingdom that includes prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria.

Eubacteria

True bacteria characterized by a rigid cell wall.

Archaebacteria

Bacteria that live in extreme conditions and have distinct cell wall structures.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment present in plants that is crucial for photosynthesis.

Cell Wall Composition

The structural layer surrounding cells, made of different materials like cellulose in plants and chitin in fungi.

Fungi

A kingdom of heterotrophic organisms that absorb nutrients from their surroundings.

Mycelium

A network of hyphae that forms the body of a fungus.

Hyphae

Thread-like structures that make up the fungi.

Sporangium

A structure in fungi where spores are produced.

Diatomaceous Earth

A sedimentary rock made from diatom cell walls, used in various industrial applications.

Protozoa

Single-celled eukaryotic organisms that can be free-living or parasitic.

Flagellates

Protozoa that move using flagella.

Ciliates

Protozoa that use cilia for movement and feeding.

Amoeba

A genus of protozoans that move and feed using pseudopodia.

Slime Moulds

Unicellular protists that can aggregate into a multicellular structure.

Euglenoids

A group of protists that can photosynthesize in light and consume food in darkness.

Lichens

Symbiotic associations between fungi and algae.

Plasmogamy

The fusion of protoplasm from two different cells.

Karyogamy

The fusion of nuclei from two cells after plasmogamy.

Alternation of Generations

The life cycle of plants that alternates between haploid and diploid phases.

Toxins

Poisonous substances produced by certain organisms, including some dinoflagellates.

Bacteriophage

A virus that specifically infects bacteria.

Prions

Infectious agents composed of abnormally folded proteins, causing neurological diseases.

Viroids

Infectious entities consisting solely of RNA without a protein coat.

Chitin

A long-chain polymer that makes up the cell walls of fungi.

Cellulose

A complex carbohydrate forming the main substance of plant cell walls.

Saprophyte

An organism that feeds on dead organic matter.

Hermaphrodite

An organism having both male and female reproductive organs.

Symbiosis

A mutually beneficial relationship between different organisms.

Decomposers

Organisms that break down dead organic material, returning nutrients to the ecosystem.

Antibiotics

Substances produced by fungi or bacteria that inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms.

Pseudopodia

Extensions of cytoplasm used for movement and feeding by amoebas.

Gametes

Reproductive cells that unite to form a new organism.

Fruiting Bodies

Specialized structures in fungi that produce spores.

Chemosynthesis

A process by which some organisms obtain energy from inorganic compounds.

Pathogen

A microorganism that causes disease.

Diversity

Variability among living organisms within a specific environment.

Exploration

The act of investigating or studying new systems or organisms.

Holozoic Nutrition

Process of ingesting complex organic substances as food.

Cytoplasm

The jelly-like substance within a cell containing organelles.

Reproductive Strategies

The methods by which organisms reproduce, including sexual and asexual means.

Evolutionary Relationships

The connections of different species based on their evolutionary history.

Microbial Flora

The population of microorganisms that inhabit a particular environment.

Cellular Organization

The structural arrangement of cells in an organism.

Bacterial Shapes

Different shapes of bacteria, including cocci, bacilli, spirilla, and vibrio.

Fruiting Bodies

Special reproductive structures produced by fungi to produce spores.

Linnaeus's Classification

A system that classified organisms into two kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia.

Zygote

The fertilized egg resulting from the fusion of gametes.