Classification of Living Things
What two things make up an organism's scientific name?
Genus and species
What does the fossil record show us?
If the environment changes rapidly, some species may not be able to adapt fast enough through natural selection. Through studying the fossil record, we know that many of the organisms that once lived on Earth are now extinct.
What are the three shapes of bacteria?
Rod-like, spherical, and spiral.
What are the three types of protists?
Animal-like, plant-like, and fungus-like.
A _______ is a tiny, non-living particle that enters and then reproduces inside a living cell.
Virus
What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the study of how living things are organized.
Darwin did not know that genes existed, but he could see that many traits are passed from parents to offspring.
What is the long, whip-like structure that helps bacterial cells move?
Flagellum
Define protist.
Protists are eukaryotes that cannot be classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
Why are viruses considered non-living? Give at least 1 reason.
They are not cells
They do not have the 6 characteristics of living things
They need a host to multiply
Why do classification systems change?
Classification systems change regularly as scientists understand more and more about living things through new technology.
Define homologous structures.
Homologous structures are physical features that are shared due to evolutionary history (a common ancestor).
Name two characteristics of bacteria.
They are unicellular organisms and they lack a nucleus (they are prokaryotes).
How do animal-like protists (protozoans) obtain their food?
They are heterotrophs who move from place to place to obtain food.
What is the difference between active and hidden viruses?
After entering a cell, active viruses immediately take over cell functions and multiply. Hidden viruses enter a cell and do not immediately become active. They stay "hidden" in the cell, sometimes for years, before they take over the cell's function.
Animals, plants, protists, and fungi all belong to which domain?
Domain Eukarya
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process through which populations of living organisms adapt and change. Individuals with traits that give them some advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce and pass their traits on to their offspring. Over time, these favorable traits become more common through generations.
How do fungi reproduce?
How do plant-like protists (algae) obtain their food?
They are autotrophs who use the sun's energy to produce their own food.
Describe the structure of a virus.
All viruses have two basic parts: a protein coat that protects the virus and an inner core that contains genetic material.
Name the levels of classification in order.
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Why was isolation important in Darwin's observations of finches?
In the example of Darwin's finches, groups in a single population may become isolated from one another by geographical barriers, such as ocean surrounding islands. Once isolated, the groups can no longer interbreed and are exposed to different environments. In each environment, natural selection is likely to favor different traits. Over many generations, differences in traits can accumulate between the groups, to the extent that they are considered separate species.
Define fungi.
Fungi are eukaryotes that have cell walls, are heterotrophs that feed by absorbing their food, and use spores to reproduce.
Give three characteristics of fungus-like protists and give an example of a fungus-like protist.
Like fungi, fungus-like protists are heterotrophs, have cell walls, and use spores to reproduce. Three types of fungus-like protists are slime molds, water molds, and downy mildews.
How do viruses multiply?
1) The virus attaches to the host cell and enters the cell.
2) The virus's genetic material takes over the cell's function.
3) It instructs the cell to make the virus's proteins and genetic material.