Chapter#1 | Classification

1.1 Concept and Use of a Classification System

1. Organisms can be classified into groups based on the features

they share. Classification helps organize the vast diversity of living
things into manageable categories.

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

fertile offspring. This means that members of the same species
can mate and give birth to offspring that are also capable of
reproducing.

3. The binomial system of naming species is an internationally

agreed system. In this system, each organism is given a scientific
name composed of two parts: the genus name (first part) and the
species name (second part). This system ensures that every
species has a unique and universally recognized name.

4. Dichotomous keys are tools used to identify organisms based on

a series of choices between alternative characteristics. By
following a sequence of yes/no decisions, one can eventually
arrive at the identification of a specific organism.

1.2 Features of Organisms

1. Five Kingdom Classification:

 - Animal Kingdom: Includes multicellular organisms with
complex structures, heterotrophic nutrition, and the ability to
move.
- Plant Kingdom: Comprises multicellular, autotrophic
organisms that conduct photosynthesis to produce their own
food.
- Fungus Kingdom: Consists of multicellular or unicellular
organisms that are heterotrophic and absorb nutrients from their
surroundings.
- Prokaryote Kingdom: Contains unicellular organisms without a
true nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, including bacteria.
- Protoctist Kingdom: Encompasses mostly unicellular
eukaryotic organisms that don't fit neatly into other categories.

2. Animal Kingdom Subgroups:

- Vertebrates: Animals with backbones.
- Mammals: Warm-blooded, have hair or fur and produce milk
for their young.
- Birds: Feathered, lay eggs, have beaks and wings.
- Reptiles: Cold-blooded, scaly skin, lay amniotic eggs.
- Amphibians: Cold-blooded, undergo metamorphosis, often
have moist skin.
- Fish: Cold-blooded, aquatic, typically have scales and gills.
- Arthropods: Invertebrates with segmented bodies and
exoskeletons.
- Myriapods: Terrestrial arthropods with many legs
(centipedes, millipedes).
- Insects: Six-legged arthropods with three body parts (head,
thorax, abdomen).
 - Arachnids: Eight-legged arthropods (spiders, scorpions, ticks,
mites).
- Crustaceans: Aquatic arthropods with hard exoskeletons
(crabs, lobsters, shrimp).

3. Plant Kingdom Subgroups:

- Ferns: Vascular plants that reproduce via spores instead of
seeds, typically have fronds.
- Flowering Plants:
- Dicotyledons: Have two seed leaves (cotyledons), net-like leaf
venation.
- Monocotyledons: Have one seed leaf, parallel leaf venation.

4. Classifying Organisms:
- Use the features mentioned above to place organisms into
their respective kingdoms, subgroups, and classes.

5. Features of Viruses:
- Viruses are not classified in the traditional five-kingdom
system.
- They consist of a protein coat (capsid) surrounding genetic
material, either DNA or RNA.

6. Viral Replication:
- Viruses can only replicate within living host cells. They attach
to host cells, inject their genetic material, and hijack the host's
cellular machinery to reproduce and assemble new virus particles.
This often damages or destroys the host cell in the process.