Chapter 1 - The Variety of Living Organisms

Thursday, July 14, 2022 11:04 AM

Objectives:

• Explain the difference between living and non-living things.

• List the seven characteristics of life
• Define and explain: Nutrition, respiration, excretion, movement, reproduction, growth and irritability.
• Differentiate between breathing and respiration.
• Differentiate between excretion and egestion.

WHAT IS A LIVING ORGANISM?

All living things are made up of CELLS. Thus, there are two types of organisms:

UNICELLULAR - These organisms are only made of one cell. They usually have simple structures and do not rely on a transport system
for their nutrients. They instead move dissolved gases and nutrients around by the process of diffusion. They do not rely on sexual
reproduction to continue their species, instead reproducing by splitting in two. Common examples include: Bacteria, Amoeba, yeast.

MULTICELLULAR - These organisms require a more complex structure and specialized systems may be necessary to enable to
organism to digest and transport food, escape predators, seek shelter and find a sexual mate to continue the species.

SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE

All living organisms have specific characteristics, listed in the table below:
Characteristic Description
GROWTH Permanent increase in size by increasing dry mass and number of cells.
RESPIRATION Release of energy through a molecule known as ATP for the metabolism1.
IRRITABILITY Detection and response to a change in the environment, such as temperature.
MOVEMENT An action by an organism, causing a change in position or place. 2
NUTRITION Taking in, utilization and storage nutrients from different sources.
EXCRETION Removal of metabolic waste, toxic products and excess in the body.
REPRODUCTION Production of new individuals to continue the species.

1 - Metabolism refers to THE CHEMICAL PROCESSES THAT OCCUR IN THE BODY.

2 - Plants move by orienting their leaves and stems towards sunlight, or through the downward growth of their roots. While plants can
move their body parts or grow in a particular direction, they cannot direct their bodies from one location to another. When an
organism is able to move from one location to another, this is termed LOCOMOTION (or WHOLE MOVEMENT).

ITQ 1: List three characteristics of the planet Earth that enable it to sustain life.
The presence of water, suitable temperature range, the presence of gases in the atmosphere, like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

SECTION A SYLLABUS OBJECTIVE 1.2: CLASSIFYING SPECIES

Each organism belongs to a certain species. Members of the same species:

1. Have very similar physical and biological characteristics.
2. Are able to interbreed and produce viable, FERTILE offspring.

The scientific classification of living things is called taxonomy.

The Binomial System

Each biological name has two parts which are the same in all these countries and all over the world – the biological name for the

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Each biological name has two parts which are the same in all these countries and all over the world – the biological name for the
plant is Eryngium foetidum.

The first word of this name is the genus name and always starts with a capital letter. The second word is the species name.

Rules when writing the binomial name

• Type name in Italics.
• If writing, write in script and underline the names: Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens.
• Genus must be in a capital letter eg. Homo.
• Can use sp. to represent species name if it is unknown.

Taxonomy
Organisms are arranged in the taxa that starts at a kingdom and ends at a species. Take the gray wolf, Canis lupus, for example
below.
Taxon Level Name Description
KINGDOM Animalia It is a multicellular organism that must feed on others to live.
PHYLUM Chordata It has a backbone and nerve running along it.
CLASS Mammalia It is a mammal; can regulate its body temperature.
ORDER Carnivora It is a carnivore; only eats other animals.
FAMILY Canidae It is either a coyote, jackal, fox or wolf.
GENUS Canis It is a type of wolf.
SPECIES Lupus It is specifically a gray wolf.

All living organisms can be classified into groups based on certain criteria and are classified into three domains: Prokaryot es,
Eukaryotes and Viruses.
According to the Whittaker model, each organism belongs to one of FIVE KINGDOMS:
Kingdom Description Example
PLANTAE Multicellular, able to photosynthesise, have chlorophyll and cell wall. Hibiscus, algae, mosses
ANIMALIA Multicellular, must feed on other organisms to obtain nutrition, no cell wall. Humans, corals, birds,
snakes
FUNGI Multicellular, cannot photosynthesise, must absorb food, has cell wall. Mushrooms, yeast, mold
PROKARYOTA or Unicellular, no nucleus (prokaryote), either photosynthesise or ingest food Bacteria, archaea
MONERA through absorption.
PROTISTA Unicellular, have a nucleus, either photosynthesise or absorb food. Amoeba, protozoa

ITQ2: Animals and plants are able to

carry out certain processes which
distinguish them from non-living things.
Describe briefly how a plant
(i) feeds
Most plants are able to make
their own food in a process called
photosynthesis.
(ii) Moves
A plant moves by growing
towards light from the
environment.

ITQ 3: What are the five major groups of

lifeforms or organisms?
Prokaryotes (bacteria), protoctists (algae and
protozoans), fungi (moulds, yeasts and

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 ITQ 3: What are the five major groups of
lifeforms or organisms?
Prokaryotes (bacteria), protoctists (algae and
protozoans), fungi (moulds, yeasts and
mushrooms), plants (mosses, liverworts,
ferns, conifers and flowering plants), animals
(invertebrates and vertebrates).

Kingdom Prokaryotae
• The prokaryotes are organisms that are commonly called bacteria.
• They occupy many environments such as soil, dust, water, air, and in or on animals and plants. They can also survive in extreme
conditions (heat, cold, acidic, volcano vents).
• Their cells have a much simpler structure than those of the eukaryotes.
• Prokaryotes are vital to all other organisms since they cause decay of dead plant and animal material which releases nutrients
back into the environment. They are essential to the nitrogen cycle. They are also important to humans because they cause
disease (e.g. cholera and TB ), important in diet (yogurt) and are used in biotechnology (e.g. in insulin production).

Characteristics:
○ Small, unicellular, free-living celled organisms.
○ Three basic shapes: spheres, rods and spirals.
○ Cell wall made of polysaccharides and proteins (peptidoglycan).
○ Some have a capsule or slime layer.
○ Has no nucleus (Pro – karyote - Before – nucleus).
○ Some species have flagella.
○ Some contain plasmids (loops of DNA) which we can use in genetic engineering.
○ Common prokaryotes (bacteria) – Staphlococcus sp., E. coli, Strepoccus.

ITQ 4: Bacteria are described as being microscopic and unicellular organisms. What do these terms mean?
Microscopic means cannot be seen with the eye without the use of a microscope because they are so small. Unicellular means ma de
up of one cell. A bacterium is a single cell which can carry out all the processes of life.

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Characteristic Eukaryotic Prokaryotic

Unicellular or Multicellular? Can be both unicellular and multicellular. Only unicellular.
How is the DNA arranged? Found in a nucleus, in chromosomes. No nucleus. DNA is in loose threads.
Size and examples Larger. Examples: Amoeba, animals, plants Smaller. Examples: Bacteria, archaea

Kingdom Prostista
• Most protoctists are microscopic unicellular, that is made of one cell, organisms with a membrane bound nucleus.
• Algae and protozoa are two kinds of protoctist.
• Protozoa are unicellular and feed on other organisms (heterotrophically).
• They are found in all environments, especially in water, and examples include Amoeba, Paramecium (animal-like) and Chlorella
(plant-like).
• They are important to humans because diseases such as malaria and sleeping sickness are caused by protozoan parasites.

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 • They are important to humans because diseases such as malaria and sleeping sickness are caused by protozoan parasites.

ITQ5: Using one named example of each, describe one similarity and one difference between algae and protozoans.
Algae: Chlorella; protozoan: Amoeba. Both organisms have ‘true’ nuclei; the chromosomes are enclosed in a membrane which is
called a nucleus (so they belong to the eukaryotes). (Bacteria differ from this and are prokaryotes.) A difference between Chlorella
and Amoeba is that Chlorella has a chloroplast and is able to photosynthesise or make its own food, while Amoeba cannot
photosynthesise and must feed on other organisms.

Kingdom Fungi
• Fungi range in size from unicellular yeasts to large toadstools. Some are used by humans for medicinal and dietary purposes.
• They are heterotrophic organisms and obtain their food from the environment. Feed by SAPROPHYTIC nutrition using
EXTRACELLULAR enzymes (They digest their food outside the body using enzymes which make it soluble. Then they absorb the
food).
• Cell wall made of CHITIN.
• Made of a network of fibres called a MYCELIUM or HYPHAE.
• Fungi reproduce by producing spores asexually or sexually. These are dispersed by the wind and water and some rely on
animals to take them to new environments.

Importance
○ Important in the making of the antibiotic penicillin.
○ Essential to many fermentation processes, such as those used in making bread, wine, beer and other alcoholic
beverages.
○ Used to make a range of chemical products, such as anaesthetics, birth control pills and meat tenderiser.
○ Moulds and rust are fungi that are important in damaging growing crops.
○ Cause of spoilage of food.
○ Source of food and used to make food, such as sufu in East Asia.
○ Examples: yeast, moulds, mushrooms.

ITQ 6: Name three kinds of fungi and a possible use of each.

Yeast: to make bread. Mushrooms: for food. Moulds: to make the antibiotic penicillin.

Kingdom Plantae
• They are multicellular.
• Cells contain chloroplasts.
• Carry out photosynthesis and therefore make their own food (autotrophic).
• Have cellulose cell walls.
• Store sugar as starch.
• Many plants are a source of food for humans and other animals.
• Some provide a rich and diverse habitat.
• Some plants can be used as medicines.
• The flowering plants have true flowers and so make seeds.
• Angiosperms are the largest group of plants.
• They include most crop plants, ornamental plants and plants used as herbs or medicinal plants.
• They vary in size from the very small to gigantic (over 90 m tall) and are often very beautiful.
• They can live in a wide variety of habitats, from deserts to rainforests.

Angiosperms and are divided into two groups: the monocotyledons and the dicotyledons.
Feature Monocotyledons Dicotyledons
Seed Has one cotyledon or seed leaf Has two cotyledons or seed leaves
Leaf Has parallel veins Has net-like or branching (reticulate)
Roots Fibrous root system Main tap root with smaller lateral roots
Flowers Small, pale flower Large, colourful flower
Whorls of petals Whorls of 3s Whorls of 4's or 5's

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 Whorls of petals Whorls of 3s Whorls of 4's or 5's
Type of stem Herbaceous Woody
Example Corn (Zea mays) Hibiscus

ITQ 7:
(i) Plants range in size from unicellular to giant. Put these plants in order of size starting from the smallest: fern, mango tree,
croton, moss and lettuce. Moss, lettuce, fern, croton and mango tree.
(ii) List five reasons why plants are important.
a. They produce oxygen which is need by animals for respiration.
b. They are a food source.
c. They can be used for medicinal purposes (herbs).
d. They hold topsoil in place.
e. They provide homes for animals.

Kingdom Animalia
• They are multicellular.
• Get their nutrition from feeding on other organisms (heterotrophic).
• They are capable of movement.
• Store sugar as glycogen.
• They are grouped in phyla - porifera, cnidaria, platyhelmintha, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda (all invertebrates) and chordata
(vertebrates).

Phylum Nematoda
○ These are round worms.

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Phylum Nematoda
○ These are round worms.
○ Cylindrical body tapered at both ends.
○ Unsegmented.
○ Pseudocoelomate (fluid-filled body cavities).
○ E.g. hookworks, Ascaris.

Phylum Platyhelminthes
○ They are flat worms.
○ Have bilateral symmetry.
○ Have a mouth but no anus (single entrance body cavity).
○ Have a flattened body shape to increase SA:Vol ratio and may be parasitic.
○ Examples include tapeworms and planaria.

Phylum Annelida
○ These are ringed worms.
○ Have bilateral symmetry.
○ Have a separate mouth and anus.
○ Body composed of ringed segments with specialisation of segments.
○ Examples include earthworms and leeches

Phylum Mollusca
○ Have bilaterial symmetry.
○ Have a separate mouth and anus.
○ Body composed of a visceral mass, a muscular foot and a mantle (may produce shell).
○ Some molluscs like conch and oysters are important to Caribbean people as a source of food
and an exotic treat to locals and tourists.
○ Examples include snails, slugs, octopi, squid and bivalves (e.g. clams).

Phylum Cnidaria
○ Have radial symmetry.
○ Have a mouth but no anus (single entrance body cavity).
○ May have tentacles with stinging cells for capturing and disabling prey.
○ Examples include jellyfish, sea anemones and coral.

Phylum Echinodermata
○ Radiating limbs.
○ Hard spiny body.
○ No legs.
○ Lives in sea.
○ E.g. star fish, sea urchin.

Phylum Porifera
○ No body symmetry (asymmetrical).
○ No mouth or anus (have pores to facilitate the circulation of material).
○ May have silica or calcium carbonate based spicules for structural support.
○ Examples include sea sponges.

Phylum Arthropoda
○ Have bilateral symmetry.
○ Have a separate mouth and anus.
○ Have jointed body sections/appendages and have a hard exoskeleton (chitin).
○ Dominate life on Earth.
Examples include insects, crustaceans, spiders, scorpions and centipedes.

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 ○ Examples include insects, crustaceans, spiders, scorpions and centipedes.

Phylum Chordata

ITQ 8: Name the five groups of vertebrates, giving two examples of each.
Fish: shark, guppy. Amphibian: frog, toad. Reptile: snake, lizard. Bird:parrot, duck. Mammal: lion, goat.

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PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
1. June 2017 P2 Q2 (a)

Select from Table 1, ONE(1) organism which belongs to EACH of the following
taxonomic group:
• Arthropod: spider or ant or caterpillar
• Reptile: lizard
• Bird: egret
• Amphibian: frog

2. January 2018 Q1(c)

Table 1 shows data obtained from a tree study done by ecology students
Name of Organism Number
Ant 50
Spider 8
Lizard 6
Egret 2
Caterpillar 20
Wild pine 2
Tree frog 3

SECTION A SYLLABUS OBJECTIVE 1.1: TAXONOMY

• The simplest way to classify organisms is according to similarities in their visible characteristics.
• Carl Linnaeus was a scientist in the 18th century who first grouped organisms together by a natural classification.
• Two types of classification –
○ Artificial
Natural

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 ○ Natural

Artificial classification involves categorising by certain features of anatomy. For example, take into account the organisms below.
Find THREE categories to differentiate the ant and termite below.

Characteristic Flying Ant Termite

ANTENNAE Has bowed antennae. Has straight antennae.
BODY SHAPE Has a thin division between thorax and abdomen. Has a wider abdomen.
WINGS Has less segments. Is densely segmented.

ITQ 9: Classify these organisms according to similarities in their visible characteristics into three groups.
Two pairs of wings, three pairs of legs, body divided into three parts.

Using artificial classification depends on identifying organisms by physical or anatomical characteristics (or morphology). T his can be
problematic for identifying organisms of the same species for several reasons.

Reason Explanation
All organisms inherit Organisms can widely vary in appearance due to characteristics inherited from parents.
different genetic traits from Humans, for example, vary widely in height, weight, skin colour, hair texture and many other
their parents. features. Yet we are all the same species, Homo sapiens.
Maturity causes changes in Members of the same species change physical appearance during maturity. Examples include
appearance. tadpoles turning into frogs and chicks shedding their yellow feathers.
Males and females of a Different genders of the same species may have differing characteristics. Examples include
species may look different. lions, for which the females don’t have manes, and male peacocks which have large, colourful
feathers.

Natural or modern classification is based on an organism’s DNA base sequences and evolutionary descent and is structured as a
hierarchy, with each level being called a TAXON. It is much more accurate than simply observing a species’ anatomy.

DICHOTOMOUS KEYS
• A dichotomous key is a tool that enables classification of organisms.
• It works by asking a series of questions in a step-by-step fashion until you are led to the name of the organism.
• Dichotomous means ‘divided into two parts’ and a dichotomous key always offers two answers to each question.
• Dichotomous keys can be used to classify organisms according to both artificial or natural criteria, including DNA information
where it is available.

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