1.

2 The variety of life

The science of organisms into categories on the basis of their observable characteristics is
called classification.
The five kingdoms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Bacteria
Protocistans
Plants
Fungi
Animals
(maybe virus)

Each kingdom contains an enormous number of species and they can be further separated
using keys

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Kpcofgs

1.3 Bacteria and Viruses

Bacteria are single celled organisms that have no true nucleus. They do not contain organelles
(like plant and animal cells) but are able to carry out all their life processes. Bacteria can be:
1. Parasites (feeding of living organisms)
2. Saprotrophs (feeding off living organisms)
Bacteria can have different shapes:
1. Cocci are known as spherical bacteria. (causes boils and pneumonia)
2. Bacilli are rod shaped bacteria. (sours milk and causes typhoid)
3. Spirilli are spiral bacteria. (causes syphilis and cholera)
Bacteria have certain requirements (food, oxygen, producing large quantities of waste
materials). If the environment supplies these needs the bacteria can multiply rapidly by binary
fission (dividing into two, and then multiplying into two..).
The importance of bacteria:
1. Pathogenic: They cause diseases and they are parasites.
2. Some are involved in nutrient cycles.
3. They also exploited by humans in food production and biotechnology.
Characteristics of a bacteria cell:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Cytoplasm contains enzymes and food molecules but no organelles.

Glycogen grains may be a food store.
Slime coat is present in some species of bacteria.
Cell wall does not contain cellulose.
Has a cell membrane.
Plasmids are few rings of DNA carrying only a few genes.
Main DNA strand is not contained inside a nucleus.
Flagella beat to move the bacterium.

Viruses are parasites and can therefore cause harm to the host. Most viruses cause diseasesthey may infect humans, domestic animals or plants. Features:
1. Genetic material- may be DNA or RNA but always a single strand.
2. Protein coat- protects the single strand of nucleic acid.
3. Spikes- may contact and recognise the cell to be infected.
Some taxonomists have suggested that virus belongs to a sixth kingdom- because they cannot
be as a considered living organism as it doesnt perform all life processes:

Movement
Respiration
Sensitivity
Growth
Reproduction
Excretion
Nutrition

Mrs. Gren

1.4 Fungi
Fungal cells have a cell wall made of a mixture of substance including chitin. The cytoplasm
contains many organelles, since the fungus manufactures digestive enzymes. It feeds by
saprotrophic nutrition.
Single celled yeasts reproduce asexually by binary fission, but all other fungi reproduce by the
production of spores.
Requirements of fungi:
1. A moist environment- so that it can absorb the soluble products of digestion of their food
source in a solution.
2. A warm environment- so that enzymes can work at their optimum temperature.
3. A nutrient source- to provide the raw materials and energy required for growth.
Fungi dont require light since they do not rely on photosynthesis for the production of food
compounds. This means that fungi are rarely found in light environments, since such
environments are usually too warm or too dry for fungal growth.
The importance of fungi:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

They are decomposers and play a vital role in nutrient cycles.

Their decomposing methods can destroy many materials (wood).
Mould fungi consume food which might otherwise be eaten by humans.
They can be agents of diseases (athletes foot).
They can be source of food (mushrooms).
They are used in biotechnology (brewing and baking industries, yeast).

Differences between Virus, Bacteria, Protists and

Fungi
Kingdom

Virus

Bacteria

Protists

Fungi

Domain

(prokaryote)

(eukaryote)

(eukaryote)

Cell membrane

(Doesnt have a
kingdom)
No (protein coat)

yes

Yes

Yes

Cytoplasm

No

yes

Yes

Yes

Nucleus
membrane
Genetic material

No

No

Yes

Yes

RNA or DNA

DNA

DNA and RNA

DNA and RNA

Organelles

No

No

Yes

Yes

Form of nutrition

Parasite

Autotrophic
Chemotrophic
Heterotrophic

Autotrophic
Chemotrophic
Heterotrophic

Saprotrophic
Parasitic

Prokaryotic cells are smaller and simpler than eukaryotic cells and do not have a nucleus.

1.6 Invertebrate animals

Members of the animal kingdom can be divided into two large kingdoms: vertebrates and
invertebrates.
The four groups invertebrates:
1. Nematodes
Hookworms and nematodes are specialised for feeding and reproducing: often
they are parasites inside the gut of another animal.

2. Annelids
They have long thin segmented body and chaetae.

3. Molluscs
Molluscs have a hard shell protecting a soft body with no limbs.

4. Arthropods
They are the most numerous of all animals, both in terms of species and the
number of individuals in each species.
The insects are arthropods if they show an interesting adaptation in their life
cycle called metamorphosis.
Arthropods can be divided into 3 categories:
Crustacea
Are slightly unusual because many of their segment are tucked
under their body.

Myriapods

 Insects
Housefly
mousquito

Arachnids

Comparisons
Annelid, Nematode and Mollusc
Body covering

Segments
visible
Movement

Feeding
method

Annelid
Hard, slightly
waterproof

Nematode
Soft, not
waterproof

Yes

No

Mollusc
Soft- shell
helps to save
water
No

Uses chaetae
(bristles) to
move from
place to place
Herbivores

Wriggles but
lives in one
place

Creeps on foot
from place to
place

Mainly
parasites

Mainly
herbivoressome
carnivores

Crustacea, myriapods, insects and arachnids

Crustacea
(crab)

Myriapods

Insects
Arachnids
(houseflies) (spiders)

Jointed limbs

Walking legs

Three pairs of legs

Hardened, serrated
edge to claw
Carapace (thick
shell)
Eyes

Body covering

Antennae

Hard exoskeleton

Two pairs of wings

for flying
Compound eyes

Spinneret to
produce silk
Simple eyes

Gills under shell

Mouthparts (hard
edges)

Mouthparts (very
specialised for
feeding)
Body segmented:
head, thorax and
abdomen

Powerful piercing
jaws

Antennae

Many body
segments

Four pairs of legs

Head and thorax

combined into one
body part and
abdomen

1.7 vertebrate animals: five classes

Mammals are one of the five classes of invertebrate animals called Chordata. Mammals
are endothermic vertebrates. The five classes of vertebrate animals are:

Fish

Amphibians

Reptiles

Birds

Mammals

Humans show the typical mammalian characteristics of hair, mammary gland and a
diaphragm. Human adaptation has allowed advanced development of the brain, and of
all the complex activities the brain can coordinate. Some features that make humans
very special are the upright posture, freeing the hands for complex movements
including the use of tools.
Fish
Scales
Fins (no limbs)

Amphibians
Nostrils leading
to lungs
Four limbs

Lateral line

Wide mouth

Operculum
covering gills

Moist skin (gas

exchange)

Reptiles
Limbs (crawling
and climbing)
Tail used for
swimming

Birds
Nostrils leading
to lungs
Forelimbs
modified into
wings
Mouth has
Feathers (flight
teeth and bony and
ridges
endothermy)
Dry scaly skin
Scales on feet
limits water loss (ideal for
perching)

Mammals
Pinna on ear
Whiskers
(touch and
vibration)
fur

Mouth (helps to
use a wide
variety of
foods)
penis

Invertebrate animals
Invertebrate animals
Nematodes

Annelids

Molluscs

Arthopods

Crustacea

Myriapods

Insects

Arachnids

Vertebrate animals

Yes

All have backbone

No
Do they have
smooth
skin?
Fish,
reptils,
birds,
mammals

Vertebrates

Fish, Reptiles
Do they have scales
on skin?
Birds, Mammals

Amphibians
Yes

No