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IGCSE Biology > Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms > Flashcards

Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms Flashcards

1
Q

What is the mnemonic to remember the characteristics of a living organism? And what do they stand for?

A

MRS GREN: Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, nutrition.

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2
Q

Define the characteristic of movement:

A

An action taken by the organism causing it to change place/position.

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3
Q

Define the characteristic of respiration:

A

A chemical reaction that break down nutrient molecules for energy for metabolism. Makes ATP (Adenosine triphosphate, energy carrying molecule)

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4
Q

Define the characteristic of sensitivity:

A

The ability to detect stimuli from internal/external environment and make appropriate responses.

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5
Q

Define the characteristic of growth:

A

The physical changing of the organism, by an increase in cell number.

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6
Q

Define the characteristic of reproduction:

A

The ability to make more of the same organism.

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7
Q

Define the characteristic of excretion:

A

The ability to get rid of waste products made by the cell.

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8
Q

Define the characteristic of nutrition:

A

The ability to gain/extract energy to growth and development.

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9
Q

What is the Binomial System?

A

A system that subdivides organisms into detailed groups.

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10
Q

What is the mnemonic to remember the grouping of the Binomial System? And what does it stand for?

A

King Phillip Came Over For Grans Spaghetti. Kingdom, Phyllum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

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11
Q

What is a past method used by scientists to group living organisms? And describe the method:

A

Morphology. The grouping of living organisms based off appearance and the basic anatomy.

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12
Q

Why do organisms share the same features?

A

They descended from the same common ancestor.

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13
Q

How does DNA sequencing benefit the system that groups organisms together?

A

DNA sequencing allows scientists to take a closer look at the common DNA, giving them a better idea of how long ago in time the common ancestor was. This allows them to group organisms better because the organisms in the same group should have the same common ancestor in the same sort of time period.

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14
Q

What are the 5 kingdoms?

A

A division that separates organisms into Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protoctists and Prokaryotes.

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15
Q

Name 3 features of the Animal Kingdom:

A
  • Multicellular
  • Contain a nucleas but no cell walls/chloroplast
  • Feed through means of other organic resources made by other living things
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16
Q

Name 3 features of the Plant Kingdom:

A
  • Multicellular
  • Contain a nucleas, cellulose cell wall, chloroplasts
  • Get energy from light and water
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17
Q

Name 3 features of the Fungi Kingdom:

A
  • Usually multicellular
  • Cells have nuclei and cell walls (not cellular)
  • Doesn’t photosynthesize but feed by saprophytic or parasitic nutrition.
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18
Q

What are Protoctists?
Give an example:

A

Eukaryotic organisms that are not animals, plants or fungi. They are unicellular and microscopic. Examples include: algae, amoeba. etc.

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19
Q

What is the difference between nucleas and nuclei? List 2 differences:

A

Nucleas refers to one, and nuclei refers to multiple. Cells that have a nucleas have only 1 nucleas. Cells that have nuclei have multiple nuclei. Nucleas is located in the centre of the cell, nuclei is located throughout.

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20
Q

Define eukaryotic cells/organisms:

A

Any cell/organism with a clearly defined nucleas and organelles and a plasma bound membrane.

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21
Q

Name 4 features of the Protoctists Kingdom:

A
  • Usually unicellular, but some are multicellular. They are microscopic
  • All have a nucleas, some may contain chloroplasts and cell walls.
  • Some protoctists photosynthesize and some feed on organic substances made by other living organisms.
    -Eukaryotic
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22
Q

Name two features of the Prokaryotes Kingdom:

A
  • Often unicellular
  • Cell walls, but made out of peptidoglycan. Cytoplasm, no nucleas/mitochondria
23
Q

What is a prokaryotic cell?
Give an example:

A

A cell that does not contain a nucleas and a plasma membrane.
An example is bacteria.

24
Q

What does the nucleas do?

A

The mastermind of the cell, controls growth, metabolism, and carries genes.

25
Q

What does the mitochondria do?

A

The powerhouse of the cell. The mitochondria generates energy.

26
Q

What does the cell membrane do?

A

The guard of the cell. The cell membrane surrounds every living cell. It allows material in and out of the cell.

27
Q

What does the cell wall do?

A

The protector of the cell. The cell wall allows the cell to keep its shape. Can control to some extent of the material going in and out of the cell.

28
Q

What does the cytoplasm do?

A

The safety net and scientist of the cell. The cytoplasm suspends all the organelles in the cell and is the site of chemical reactions, such as cellular respiration, synthesizing proteins and mitosis/miosis.

29
Q

What is mitosis?

A

Mitosis is the process of cell division. The cell replicates its chromosones (DNA molecules) into 2 identical daughter cells.

30
Q

Why is mitosis important and what sort of cells use it?

A

Mitosis is an important part of asexual reproduction in single celled eukaryotic cells.

31
Q

What is meiosis?

A

Meiosis is the process of in eukaryotic, sexually reproducing organisms that reduce the number of chromosones before reproduction.

32
Q

What do ribosomes do?

A

Ribosomes process protein synthesis. They link amino acids together by the order specified by the genetic code.

33
Q

What does rough endoplasmic reticulum do?

A

Rough endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membranes that make proteins.

34
Q

What does smooth endoplasmic reticulum do?

A

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membrane tubes that stores lipids, hormones and other molecules.

35
Q

What does the vacuole do?

A

The vacuole is used for storage, digestion, excretion and expulsion of excess water.

36
Q

What is the cell wall made of for fungi?

A

Chitin

37
Q

What do plasmids do?

A

Contain genetic material, allows the replication of bacteria.Can be exchanged with other bacteria.

38
Q

What does the flagellum do?

A

Allows the cell to move.

39
Q

What are monocotyledons?

A

Grass-like flowering plants with parallel veins. With petals in multiples of 3.

40
Q

What are dicotyledons?

A

Flowering plants with long, broad leaves and net-like veins. With petals in multiples of 4-5.

41
Q

Why is a virus not considered a living organism?

A

A virus cell does not carry out the 7 life processes by itself, instead it takes over a host cells metabolic pathways to reproduce.

42
Q

What is around the cell of the virus and what is in the cell?

A

A protein coat surrounding the inside genetic material (RNA or DNA)

43
Q

What are 5 types of Vertebrates

A

Fish, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians and Birds

44
Q

What are Arthropods?

A

Organisms that have segmented body sections, an exoskeleton made out of chitin and jointed legs.

45
Q

What are the 4 kinds of Arthropods? Give descriptions.

A

Insect: 3 body segments (head, thorax, abdomen), 6 legs, 1 pair of antennae
Arachnids: 2 body segments, 8 legs, no antennae
Crustaceans: 2 body segments, 8+ legs, 2 pairs of antennae, exoskeleton is made of calcium
Myriapods: Many body segments, 10+ legs, 1 pair of antennae,

46
Q

What do hard shells contain that soft shells do not? Give an example why.

A

Hard shells contain water, and soft shells do not. An example is, fish lay soft eggs in water, the egg does not need to preserve water, as it is already floating in water.

47
Q

What are vesicles?

A

Plasma membrane bubbles that surround secretary proteins.

48
Q

What are the 2 elements that make up cytoplasm?

A

Cytosol: the fluid suspending organelles
Organelles

49
Q

What are cilliated cells?

A

Cilliated cells are found in the lung, they have extensions of cell membrane to increase surface area, and they help push mucus through the lungs.

50
Q

What are palisade mesophyll cells?

A

Palisade mesophyll cells are found on the top section of leaves. They have a big central vacuole, which pushes the chloroplasts to the edge of the cell to maximize light exposure. Thin cell walls let light in more easily.

51
Q

What are root hair cells?

A

Root hair cells are found on the surface of roots. They have finger-like projections to increase surface area, which helps quicker osmosis and diffusion of minerals into the plant.

52
Q

What are neurones?

A

They make up the brain and nervous system. They are used to transmit signals. They are long

53
Q

What are red blood cells?

A

Red blood cells make up 40-45% of our blood. They are used to binding and transporting oxygen. They do not have organelles, as to make room for hemogoblin (chemical that binds o2)

54
Q

What are sperm cells?

A

The male sex cell. Has flagellum to help move.

IGCSE Biology (3 decks)

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