Characteristics of Living

Organisms
MRSGREN
Species
Binomial Nomenclature
LIVING WORLD
All diverse things on this planets are divided into living and non – living.
Living beings are called organisms and are defined as a complex unit of physio – chemical materials that are capable of
growth, reproduction, metabolism, ability to sense and mount suitable response.
(CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING ORGANISMS)

MRS GREN is an acronym often used to help remember all the necessary features of living organisms: Movement,
Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition.
Movement

Movement – change in place or position of an organism

Movement –
•an action by an organism or
•part of an organism causing a
•change of position or place
Respiration
is the chemical reactions in cells
that break down nutrient molecules and
release energy for metabolism
 Sensitivity
Sensitivity - the ability to detect changes in the
environment and make appropriate responses.

Sensitivity

•the ability to detect and

•respond to changes in the
•internal or external environment
Growth
is a permanent increase in size and
dry mass by growth of cell or
addition of new ones.
Reproduction
It is a process by which an organism
reproduces an offspring that is biologically
similar to its parents
Excretion
Excretion - the removal of the toxic and
waste products of metabolism.

Excretion –
•the removal of the waste products of
•metabolism
•substances in excess of requirements
Nutrition
Defined as the taking in of materials
for energy, growth and development.
Recap
CLASSIFICATION

• Binomial Classification
• Species
BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE
Binomial Nomenclature
•What is it?
•Why do we need it?
•What are the rules?
Can we try identifying this
organism
Binomial nomenclature
• Cougar(North America)
• Puma( South America)
• Florida Panther
• Mountain Lion(western
United States and Canada)

Scientific names using

Binomial
Nomenclature allow
scientists to
communicate with
each other.
Binomial nomenclature
Carl Linnaeus started the system of assigning scientific names to
living organisms using the system of Binomial nomenclature.
Binomial nomenclature: Rules

•Scientific names have two parts: Genus and

species.
•Genus: always starts with a capital letter
•Species: all small
•When typing: italics
•When writing: underline separately
•Names are in Latin [or Latin sounding!]
The Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, is a native of
America. A flock of 20 birds was introduced into Britain
from America before 1950.
The White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala, (a native
of Spain) is a closely related species to the Ruddy duck.

With reference to an example from the passage,

describe what is meant by the term binomial system.
[2]
The Ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis, is a native of
America. A flock of 20 birds was introduced into Britain
from America before 1950.
The White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala, (a native
of Spain) is a closely related species to the Ruddy duck.

With reference to an example from the passage,

describe what is meant by the term binomial system. [2]

•each organism is given two names/ref. to genus

and species;
•suitable example (Oxyura jamaicensis or Oxyura
leucocephala) with genus and species indicated;
CLASSIFICATION :
Biological classification is the process by which living organisms are
grouped or categorized based on some observable characters.
Scientific term used for the grouping is TAXA.
Need for Biological Classification

❖ It makes the study of different organisms very convenient.

❖ It facilitates identification of organisms.
❖ It shows the relationship among various groups of organisms.
❖ Shows evolutionary trends in various group of organisms by revealing
gradual increase in the complexity of their structure.
❖ It helps in interpreting the poorly developed structures of the fossil
organisms.
❖ Study of a few representatives of a group gives the general
characteristics of that group as a whole.
Use acronyms to remember the hierarchy
SPECIES
Species
A group of organisms that can reproduce to
produce fertile offspring
•No
•The genus is
the same :
Panthera
Are these the same
species?
• Yes
• All Leopards belong to the same species P. pardus
• Systems of Classification
• Using DNA in classification
Systems of Classification
Main Principles:

•Organisms can be classified into groups by the

features that they share.

•Classification systems aim to reflect evolutionary

relationships.
Traditional Classification systems

Classification was traditionally based

on:
•Morphology [form and shape of
the body]
•Anatomy [detailed body
structure, which could be
determined by dissection]
Classification Based on Morphology and Anatomy
Classification using DNA
Are these the same species?
Are these the same species?

https://giraffeconservation.org/facts/evolution-taxo
nomy-and-scientific-classification/
DNA in Classification systems
Systems of Classification using
DNA
•Organisms can be classified into groups by the
features that they share - sequences of bases
in DNA .

•Classification systems aim to reflect

evolutionary relationships – similarity in DNA
can indicate common ancestors.
DNA in Classification systems
•The sequences of bases in DNA [and of amino acids
in proteins] are used as a more accurate means of
classification.

•Organisms which share a more recent common

ancestor [are more closely related] have base
sequences in DNA that are more similar than those
that share only a distant ancestor.
EXTRA INFORMATION
Recent Common
Ancestors
Phylogenetic / Evolutionary Tree / Cladograms
Phylogenetic / Evolutionary Tree /
Cladograms
‘Reading’ a Cladogram
 ‘Reading’ a Cladogram

1) What is the closest living relative of the horsefly (species D)?

2) What is the most recent common ancestor of species A, C, and E?
 Constructing a Cladogram
2016
•When molecules of DNA are used to classify
species, only one of the two DNA strands is
sequenced.
•First the DNA sequence from one strand of a DNA
molecule from each species is lined up against
one strand from another species.
•The bases of the DNA sequences from the same
strand can then be compared with each other.
Constructing a Cladogram
Figure A below shows a short section from the DNA sequences of eight plant
species. There are ten differences between species A and species B. These
differences are shown in Fig. B.
A

Count the number of differences between the

DNA sequences shown in the figure for
• species C and species D
• species G and species H
B
The most closely related species have
the fewest differences between their
DNA sequences. State which two plant
species shown in Table 6.1 are most
distantly related to each other. [1]
C

The most closely related species have the shortest

distance from a branching point on a classification tree.
Use the information in slide 41 to complete the
classification tree in slide 44. Write the letter
corresponding to species B, C, D and G in the box next
to the correct branch of the classification tree. [3]
REQUIRED TO KNOW
 ANIMALS

PLANTS
Eukaryotic
FUNGI

Cell
PROTOCTISTS

Prokaryotic PROKARYOTES

The Five Kingdoms

History of Classification
5 Kingdom Classification System
•Differences between prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells?
•Similarities / common structures found
in ALL living organisms?
Type of Cell
PROKARYOTIC CELL: EUKARYOTIC CELL:
•No true nucleus •True nucleus enclosing
•Genetic material usually chromosomes made up
consists of a single of DNA.
circular DNA which is not
enclosed in a nucleus.
Features of cells common to all living organisms

•Cytoplasm
•Cell membrane
•DNA as genetic material
•Ribosomes used for protein synthesis
•Enzymes involved in respiration
 Prokaryotes

•Unicellular
•Have no nucleus
•Have cell walls which are not made of cellulose
•No mitochondria

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzHdQ0n6o7E
Structure of Escherichia coli
Viruses
Viruses are not made of cells. They have genetic
material [DNA or RNA] surrounded by a protein coat
EXTRA INFO
Replication of Virus

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWkNvIUthBI
•Explain why Viruses are not considered as living
organisms.
Protoctists
• These are usually aquatic, present in
the soil or in areas with moisture.
• Most are unicellular, but some such as
seaweeds are multicellular.
• Just like any other eukaryotes, the
cells of these species have a nucleus
and membrane-bound organelles.
• Some have plant-like cells with
chloroplasts and cell walls.
• They may be autotrophic or
heterotrophic in nature. An autotrophic
organism can create their own food
and survive. A heterotrophic organism,
on the other hand, has to derive
nutrition from other organisms such as
plants or animals to survive.
• Protists exhibit locomotion through cilia
and flagella. A few organisms
belonging to kingdom Protista have
pseudopodia that help them to move.

•
Examine the diagrams of E.coli and Chalamydomonas on
pages 7 and 8.
Describe the similarities and differences between the two
organisms – that are VISIBLE in the diagrams.

Amoeba Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pR7TNzJ_pA

Protists 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-6dzU4gOJo
Protists 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfz4CDeDCBg
 Fungus
The structure of fungi can be explained in the
following points:
•Almost all the fungi have a filamentous
structure except the yeast cells.
•They can be either single-celled or
multicellular organism.
•Fungi consist of long thread-like structures
known as hyphae. These hyphae together form
a mesh-like structure called mycelium.
•Fungi possess a cell wall which is made up of
chitin and polysaccharides.
•The cell wall comprises protoplast which is
differentiated into other cell parts such as cell
membrane, cytoplasm, cell organelles and
nuclei.
•The nucleus is dense, clear, with chromatin
threads. The nucleus is surrounded by a
nuclear membrane.
Fungal structure
Identify these……..
A
1. Identify the
kingdom to which
this organism
belongs.
2. Describe TWO
features, VISIBLE in
the micrograph,
that are
characteristic and
exclusive to this
kingdom.
Identify these……..
B
1. Identify the
kingdom to
which this
organism
belongs.
2. Describe TWO
features, VISIBLE
in the
micrograph, that
are
characteristic
and exclusive to
this kingdom.
Identify these……..
C
1. Identify the
organism.
2. Describe TWO
features, VISIBLE
in the micrograph,
that are
characteristic and
exclusive to this
organism.
Identify these……..
D
1. Identify the kingdom to which this organism belongs.
2. Describe TWO features, VISIBLE in the micrograph, that are
characteristic and exclusive to this kingdom.
Identify these……..
E
1. Identify the kingdom to which this organism belongs.
2. Describe TWO features, VISIBLE in the micrograph, that are
characteristic and exclusive to this kingdom.
Worksheet - 1
 Animals

•Multicellular bodies
•Cells have a nucleus
but no cell walls or
chloroplasts.
•Heterotrophs – feed
on organic substances
made by other living
organisms.
The phylum chordata (animals with backbones) is divided into five common classes: fish,
amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds.
Invertebrates

The most familiar invertebrates include the Protozoa, Porifera, Coelenterata,

Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Echinodermata, Mollusca and
Arthropoda.
 Jointed legs

Body covered by
Features of waterproof
chitinous
arthropods exoskeleton

Segmented
body
Phylum – Arthropoda

● Arthropods have hard, external shells called “exoskeletons,” segmented bodies and jointed
legs.
● Some familiar examples are prawns, butterflies, houseflies, spiders, scorpions and crabs
and some
● They exhibit organ-system level of organisation.
● They are bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, segmented and coelomate The coelomic
cavity is blood-filled.
● The body of arthropods is covered by chitinous The body consists of head, thorax and
abdomen.
● There is an open circulatory system, and so the blood does not flow in well defined blood
vessels.
● Respiratory organs are gills, book gills, book lungs or tracheal system.
● Sensory organs like antennae, eyes (compound and simple), statocysts or balance organs
are present.
● Excretion takes place through malpighian tubules.
● They are mostly dioecious.
● Fertilisation is usually internal.
● They are mostly oviparous.
● Development may be direct or indirect.
Identify these……….
For each of the following images:
•Identify the CLASS of arthropod
•List as many features, VISIBLE in the image, that is
an exclusive feature of this class.
Identify these……….
A B
Identify these……….
C

D
Identify these……….
E

F
Vertebrates
Identify these……….
For each of the following images:
•Identify the CLASS of vertebrate
•List as many features, VISIBLE in the image, that is
an exclusive feature of this class.
Identify these……….
A B
Identify these……….
D
C
Identify these……….
E

F
 • Ferns
• Flowering plants
– Monocots and
Plant Kingdom Dicots
Plants

•Multicellular bodies
•Cells have:
•Nucleus
•cell walls made of
cellulose
•Chloroplasts
•Autotrophs that carry
out photosynthesis.
Ferns

•Plants with roots,

stems and leaves.
•Leaves are called
fronds.
•Reproduce by spores.
•Do not produce
flowers
Ferns - fronds and spores
 Plants with roots,
stem and leaves.

Reproduce sexually
Flowering plants
by means of flowers
and seeds.

Seeds are produced

inside the ovary, in
the flower.
Identify these……….
For each of the following images:
•Identify the type of plant: Fern / Monocot / Dicot
•List as many features, VISIBLE in the image, that is
an exclusive feature of this group.
Identify these……….
A B
Identify these……….
D
C
Identify these……….

F
Dichotomous key
Di- two
Chotomous- branching
Helps identity organism.
Guidelines

1. Consider only one characteristic at a time

2. Use morphological or observable characteristics as much as you
can
3. Use major characteristics when dividing the organisms in the
beginning and use lesser or less obvious characteristics to divide
them into smaller groups
4. When writing contrasting statements, rely on similar word formats
(i.e. have feathers and don’t have feathers)
5. Be specific in your statements and avoid repeating the same
characteristics
6. Use questions that lead to yes or no answers rather than
statements
Use for Reference and create a Dichotomous
key
Use for Reference and create a Dichotomous
key