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IGCSE Biology > Chapter 1: Characteristics and classification of living organisms > Flashcards

Chapter 1: Characteristics and classification of living organisms Flashcards

1
Q

List the seven characteristics of living organisms.

A

Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity

Growth
Reproduction
Excretion
Nutrition

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2
Q

Define movement.

A

Movement is an action caused by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

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3
Q

Define respiration.

A

Respiration describes the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism

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4
Q

Define sensitivity.

A

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

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5
Q

Define growth.

A

Growth is a permanent increase in size and dry mass

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6
Q

Define reproduction.

A

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

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7
Q

Define excretion.

A

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

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8
Q

Define nutrition

A

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

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9
Q

How can organisms be classified?

A

Organisms can be classified into groups by using the important features they share.

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10
Q

State the smallest natural group of organisms.

A

Species.

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11
Q

Define species.

A

A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

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12
Q

What is the binomial system of naming organisms?

A

It is an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism, made up of two parts showing the genus and species.

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13
Q

Why do we use dichotomous keys?

A

To identify unfamiliar organisms.

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14
Q

How do you construct a dichotomous key?

A
  1. Each key is made up of pairs of contrasting features.
  2. The features start with general characteristics and then move on to more specific ones.
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15
Q

Why do scientists classify organisms?

A

Scientists make it possible to understand evolutionary relationships when they classify organisms.

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16
Q

What are vertebrates?

A

Vertebrates are organisms that have a vertebral column (a back bone)

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17
Q

How do we use DNA sequencing in classification?

A

Each species has a distinct number of chromosomes and a unique sequence of bases in its DNA, making it identifiable and distinguishable from other species.

Groups of organisms which share a
more recent ancestor (are more closely related)
have base sequences in DNA that are more
similar than those that share only a distant
ancestor

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18
Q

Define kingdom.

A

A kingdom is a category of living organisms.

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19
Q

List the common features of all living organisms.

A

Cytoplasm
Cell membranes
DNA (as genetic material)

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20
Q

How is the animal kingdom classified?

A

Into vertebrates and arthropods.

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21
Q

What are arthropods?

A

Organisms that have jointed limbs, but no backbone.

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22
Q

List the characteristics of arthropods.

A
  1. Have jointed limbs
  2. Have a hard external skeleton
  3. Segmented bodies (which are grouped into the regions, head thorax and abdomen)
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23
Q

List the classes under arthropods.

A

Crustacea
Insects
Arachnids
Myriapods

24
Q

List the characteristics of crustacea.

A
  1. Five or more pairs of limbs
  2. Body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen
  3. Two pairs of antennae
  4. One pair of compound eyes
  5. Exoskeleton
25
Q

Give some examples of crustacea.

A

Crabs, prawns, lobsters, shrimps, barnacles, water fleas and woodlice.

26
Q

List the characteristics of insects.

A
  1. Three pairs of legs
  2. Body divided into head, thorax and abdomen
  3. One pair of antennae
  4. One pair of compound eyes
  5. Usually two pairs of wings
  6. Exoskeleton
27
Q

Give some examples of insects.

A

Wasps, butterflies, mosquitoes, houseflies, earwigs, greenflies, beetles.

28
Q

List the characteristics of myriapods.

A
  1. 10 or more pairs of legs (usually one pair per segment)
  2. Body not obviously divided into thorax and abdomen
  3. One pair of antennae
  4. Simple eyes
29
Q

Give some examples of myriapods

A

centipede, millipede

30
Q

List the characteristics of arachnids.

A
  1. Four pairs of legs
  2. Body divided into cephalothorax and abdomen
  3. No antennae
  4. Several pairs of simple eyes
  5. Pair of pedipalps adapted for biting and poisoning prey
31
Q

List the classes under vertebrates.

A

Fish
Amphibia
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals

32
Q

List the characteristics of fish.

A
  1. Body covered in scales
  2. Fins used for balance and movement
  3. Produce jelly-covered eggs in water
  4. Has eyes
  5. No ears; lateral line along body for detecting vibrations in water
  6. Cold-blooded
  7. Has gills for breathing
33
Q

Give some examples of fish.

A

trout, sharks, rohu

34
Q

List the characteristics of amphibia

A
  1. Moist skin
  2. Four limbs (back legs are webbed for swimming)
  3. Produces jelly-covered eggs in water
  4. Has eyes and ears
  5. Cold-blooded
  6. Lungs and skin for breathing
35
Q

Give some examples of amphibia.

A

frog, toad, newts

36
Q

List characteristics of reptiles.

A
  1. Dry skin covered with scales
  2. Four legs (apart from snakes)
  3. Produces eggs with a rubbery waterproof shell laid on land
  4. Has eyes and ears
  5. Cold-blooded
  6. Lungs for breathing
37
Q

Give some examples of reptiles.

A

lizard, snake

38
Q

List characteristics of birds.

A
  1. body covered in feathers with scales on legs
  2. Two wings and legs
  3. Produces hard-shelled eggs on land
  4. Has eyes and ears
  5. Warm-blooded
  6. Lungs for breathing
  7. Has a beak
39
Q

Give some examples of birds.

A

sparrow, pigeon

40
Q

List the characteristics of mammals.

A
  1. Body covered in fur
  2. Has four limbs
  3. Produces live young
  4. Has eyes and ears with a pinna
  5. Warm-blooded
  6. Lungs for breathing
  7. Females have mammary glands to produce milk to feed young
  8. Have four types of teeth.
41
Q

What are warm-blooded organisms?

A

Organisms with a constant body temperature
An organism’s activity is not dependent on the surrounding temperature

42
Q

What are cold-blooded organisms?

A

Organisms without a constant body temperature.
An organism’s activity is dependent on the surrounding temperature.

43
Q

List the five kingdoms.

A

Plant
Animal
Fungus
Prokaryote
Protoctist

44
Q

Why aren’t viruses included in any kingdom?

A

Because they are not considered living organisms.

45
Q

State the characteristics of ferns.

A
  1. Reproduce by producing spores (gametes)
  2. Have sieve tubes and water-conducting cells in the stem and leaves.
  3. Roots grow directly from the stem
46
Q

List the characteristics of monocotyledons.

A
  1. long and narrow leaves
  2. parallel leaf veins
  3. one cotyledon
  4. petals come in mutliples of three.
47
Q

List the characteristics of dicotyledons.

A
  1. broad leaf shape
  2. branching leaf veins
  3. two cotyledons
  4. petals come in groups of five.
48
Q

What are fungi made up of?

A

Most fungi are made up of thread-like hyphae rather than cells.
There are many nuclei scattered throughout the cytoplasm in the hyphae.

49
Q

List some examples of fungi.

A

mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, moukd

50
Q

How do fungi reproduce?

A

By producing spores.

51
Q

Define parasite.

A

A parasite is an organism living on another organism (the host), gaining food and shelter from it.

52
Q

List the characteristics of prokaryotes.

A
  1. Single-celled organisms
  2. Their chromosomes are not contained in a nucleus.
53
Q

List the characteristics of protoctists.

A

1) These are mostly single-celled and microscopic (really tiny). Some are multicellular and quite big (e.g. seaweed). 2) Some have chloroplasts and are similar to plant cells. Others are more like animal cells or fungal cells.

54
Q

Give an example of a protoctist.

A

amoeba

55
Q

List the characteristics of viruses.

A
  1. Central core of RNA or DNA
  2. Surrounded by a protein coat
56
Q

Are viruses living organisms?

A

No. They do not feed, respire, excrete or grow. Viruses do reproduce, but only inside the cells of living organisms, using the materials provided by the host cell.

IGCSE Biology (21 decks)

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