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Intro To Csec Bio

Biology is the study of living organisms, which are classified into groups based on shared characteristics from the basic to the specific. There are seven main levels of classification: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Kingdoms are the broadest groups determined by how organisms obtain food and their cellular structure. Each subsequent level provides more specific classification by examining additional similarities in physical traits and ancestry. This classification system allows scientists to more easily study specific groups of related organisms.

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840 views5 pages

Intro To Csec Bio

Biology is the study of living organisms, which are classified into groups based on shared characteristics from the basic to the specific. There are seven main levels of classification: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. Kingdoms are the broadest groups determined by how organisms obtain food and their cellular structure. Each subsequent level provides more specific classification by examining additional similarities in physical traits and ancestry. This classification system allows scientists to more easily study specific groups of related organisms.

Uploaded by

Jagdeesh Gosine
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Ecology

OBJECTIVE 1: Introduction to living organisms

Biology can be defined as the study of living organisms, divided into many specialized
fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin, and
distribution.

All LIVING ORGANISMS must express the following 7 characteristics to be considered


living:

1. GROWTH – A permanent increase in size and complexity of an organism.


2. RESPIRATION- The process by which energy is released from food by all living
cells.
3. IRRITABILITY- The ability of organisms to detect and respond to changes in
their environment.
4. MOVEMENT- A change in the position of a whole organism or part of tan
organism.
5. NUTRITION- The process by which living organisms obtain or make food
6. EXCRETION- The process by which metabolic waste products are removed from
the body from all living cells.
7. REPRODUCTION- The process by which living organisms generate new
individuals of the same species as themselves.

CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING ORGANISMS

Due to vast number of species in the world we have to employ some method of
classifying and segregating organisms into the clear cut defined groups. From this the
basis of classification came about. A Swedish scientist Carl linneus proposed the
modern day system of binomial nomenclature (a fancy term given to classing and
naming organisms).this is the science of defining and naming groups of
biological organismson the basis of shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped
together into taxa (singular: taxon) and these groups are given a taxonomic rank;
groups of a given rank can be aggregated to form a super-group of higher rank, thus
creating a taxonomic hierarchy. The principal ranks in modern use
are domain, kingdom, phylum (division is sometimes used in botany in place of
phylum), class, order, family, genus and species.

This can be simplified and remembered using the follow

KIDS - KINGDOM ON - ORDER SNACKS-SPECIES

PLEASE - PHYLUM FRANK- FAMILY

COUNT - CLASS GIVING- GENUS


Classification of Living Things
All living organisms are classified into groups based on very basic, shared
characteristics. Organisms within each group are then further divided into
smaller groups. These smaller groups are based on more detailed similarities
within each larger group. This grouping system makes it easier for scientists
to study certain groups of organisms. Characteristics such as appearance,
reproduction, mobility, and functionality are just a few ways in which living
organisms are grouped together. These specialized groups are collectively
called the classification of living things. The classification of living things
includes 7 levels: kingdom, phylum, classes, order, families, genus,
and species.

Kingdoms
The most basic classification of living things is kingdoms. Currently there
are five kingdoms. Living things are placed into certain kingdoms based on
how they obtain their food, the types of cells that make up their body, and
the number of cells they contain.

Phylum
The phylum is the next level following kingdom in the classification of
living things. It is an attempt to find some kind of physical similarities among
organisms within a kingdom. These physical similarities suggest that there is
a common ancestry among those organisms in a particular phylum.

Classes
Classes are way to further divide organisms of a phylum. Organisms of a
class have even more in common than those in an entire phylum. Humans
belong to the Mammal Class because we drink milk as a baby.

Order
Organisms in each class are further broken down into orders. A taxonomy
key is used to determine to which order an organism belongs. A taxonomy
key is nothing more than a checklist of characteristics that determines how
organisms are grouped together.

Families
Orders are divided into families. Organisms within a family have more in
common than with organisms in any classification level above it. Because
they share so much in common, organisms of a family are said to be related
to each other. Humans are in the Hominidae Family.

Genus
Genus is a way to describe the generic name for an organism. The genus
classification is very specific so there are fewer organisms within each one.
For this reason there are a lot of different genera among both animals and
plants. When using taxonomy to name an organism, the genus is used to
determine the first part of its two-part name.

Species
Species are as specific as you can get. It is the lowest and most strict
level of classification of living things. The main criterion for an organism to
be placed in a particular species is the ability to breed with other organisms
of that same species. The species of an organism determines the second part
of its two-part name.

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