Characteristics and Classification
of Living Organisms
Characteristics of Living Organisms
MRS GREN
Movement: an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
Respiration: the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and
release energy for metabolism
Sensitivity: the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external
environment
Growth: a permanent increase in size and dry mass
Reproduction: the processes that make more of the same kind of organism
Excretion: the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in
excess of requirements
Nutrition: the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development
Concept and Uses of Classification System
Organisms are classified into groups by the features they share.
Sequence of classification: Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family →
Genus → Species
Species are a group of organisms which can reproduce to produce fertile
offspring.
The Binomial System of Naming Species is an internationally agreed system in
which the scientific name of an organism comprises two parts showing the genus
and species.
The format is Genus species. The genus is capitalized, and the species are not.
The classification of organisms helps show the evolutionary relationships between
them.
Scientists also use the DNA base sequence to help classify organisms.
The similarity in DNA chains shows how closely related two organisms are.
Dichotomous keys use visible features to classify organisms. They give you a choice
of two features, and you follow the one that applies: each choice leads to another
choice until the organism is narrowed down to its genus and, finally, species.
The Five Kingdoms
Animals: Multicellular ingestive heterotrophs (eat living organisms). Ex: cat, ladybird,
newt, etc.
Plants: Multicellular photosynthetic autotrophic (make their food) organism with a
cellulose cell wall and chloroplasts. Ex: cactus, oak tree.
Fungi: Single-celled or multicellular heterotrophic organisms with cell walls not made
of cellulose, spread by spreading spores in moist/dark/warm environments. Most
have hyphae and mycelium in structure. Ex: yeast, mushrooms.
Prokaryotes: Single-celled organisms with no true nucleus or DNA in the cytoplasm.
Many also have plasmids. Ex: E.coli, Salmonella.
Protocists: Single-celled organism with a nucleus. Eukaryotes. Some are
multicellular. Ex: Amoeba, seaweed.
Main features of all animals:
multicellular
contains a nucleus but no cell walls or chloroplasts
only feed on organic substances made by other living things
Animal Kingdom
Mammals
o Fur/hair on the skin
o External ears (pinna)
o Internal fertilisation, giving the birth of young
o Mammary glands
Reptiles
o Thick, dry, scaly skin
o Usually 4 legs
o Internal fertilisation, birth from egg
o Soft eggs
Fish
o Wet scales
o Streamlined body shape
o External fertilisation and soft eggs
o Uses gills to breathe
Amphibians
o Smooth, moist skin
o External fertilisation and soft eggs
o Gills & Lungs can live on land and water
o Most have 4 legs
Birds
o Feathers on body and scales on legs
o Constant internal body temperature
o Hard eggs
o Internal fertilisation, birth through eggs
Arthropods
Invertebrates are organisms that do not have a backbone.
All arthropods have three standard features:
1. Exoskeleton
2. Jointed legs
3. Segmented body
Crustaceans: (e.g. crabs)
o Have an exoskeleton 1 pair of compound eyes
o 3 body segments – head, thorax, abdomen
o More than four pairs of legs (10-14 legs)
Arachnids: (e.g. spiders)
o 2 body segments – cephalothorax and abdomen
o Four pairs of legs (8 legs)
Myriapods: (e.g. centipedes)
o Segmented body
o Additional segments formed
o One pair of antennae
o 10+ pairs of legs – 1 or 2 pairs on each segment
Insects: (e.g. bees)
o 3 body segments – head, thorax and abdomen
o 3 pairs of jointed legs (6 legs)
o 1 pair of antennae
o 1 or 2 pairs of wings
Classification of Plants
In IGCSE Biology, the plant kingdom is classified into ferns and flowering plants.
Ferns:
o Do not produce flowers/seeds
o They are plants with roots, stems and feathery leaves
o Reproduce by spores
Flowering plants:
o They are plants with roots, stems and leaves
o Reproduce sexually by means of flowers and seeds
o Seeds are produced inside the ovary in the flower
Monocotyledons Dicotyledons
One cotyledon/One-seed leaf Two cotyledons/Two-seed leaf
Parallel veins Branching veins
Long Narrow Leaf Broad leaves
3 Flower Parts 4 or 5 Flower Parts
Scattered Vascular Bundles Ringed Vascular Bundles
Viruses
Viruses are not part of any classification system due to not being considered living
things.
They do not carry out the seven life processes for themselves; instead, they take
over a host cell’s metabolic pathways to make multiple copies of themselves.
Virus structure contains only a genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a protein
coat.
Example of virus structure below (No mitochondria or ribosomes)
