Classification, bacteria, protists, and fungi Test study guide

Carolus Linnaeusfounded the science of taxonomy.

Taxonomy: is the science of identifying, classifying and naming of organisms. Linnaeus came up with the system of binomial nomenclature; the two part naming system that gives scientific names to organisms. There can be many common names for an organism but there is only be one scientific name for an organism. The scientific name is made up of the organisms Genus and species name. For example a dog can have many common names such as; puppy, pooch, pup dog, doggy but it only has one scientific nameCanis lupus. Its genus name is canis and its species name is lupus. Canis lupus contains only one species. The genus nameis capitalized and the species is lowercase. The name should also be either italicized or underlined.

Why do scientists classify organisms? Scientists put organisms in organized groups based on their similarities and differences to understand evolutionary relationships between organisms and to be able to communicate with each other about organisms.

How do scientists classify things?

Scientists use dichotomous keys to identify organisms. Dichotomous keys include descriptive statements and depending on the answer to each statement you can identify and unknown organism.

We worked with several dichotomous keys which should be glued into your notebook.

8 Levels of Classification

Scientists classify organisms into 8 levels of classification.

Domain largest level: contains the most organisms There are three domains

KingdomArchaea –includes all archaebacteria

PhylumBacteria–includes all eubacteria

Class

OrderEukaryota- animals, plants, protists, fungi

Family

Genus

Species most specific level contains one organism

Weuse the pneumonic: Didn’t KingPhillip Came Over For Grape Soda to remember the 8 levels of classification.

Scientists place organisms in the kingdom they belong by looking at several characteristics:

  1. Ifthe organism has prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells. If the cells in the organism do not have anucleus, then that organism has prokaryotic cells. If the cells in an organism have a nucleus then the organism has eukaryotic cells.
  2. If the organism is a producer, consumer or decomposer: does this organism make its own food (producer), does it feed on other organisms (consumer) or does it feed off of dead organisms (decomposer)?
  3. Is the organism unicellular or multicellular. Is the organism single celled or is it many celled?

There are 6 kingdoms that all organisms can be organized into and they are…

Archaebacteria: Prokaryotic, unicellular “ancient” bacteria that have been around for 3 billion years and live in harsh environments like hot springs and volcanoes. Examples include: methane maker, salt lover, heat lover

Eubacteria: the majority of different types of bacteria are classified as eubacteria. They can live in soil, water and the human body and examples include: E-Coli, salmonella, MRSA and streptococcus.Some food borne illnesses are caused bybacteria. Eubacteria reproduce asexually by a process called binary fission. Some bacteria can even form a protective coating called an endospore to help them survive harsh conditions. Bacteria have three shapes; spirilla bacilli and cocci.

Protists: are eukaryotes thatdo not fit totally in any other group, called the “odds and ends” group. These organisms may have characteristics of plants, animals or fungus but do not fit well in those groups so they are considered protists.

  • Animal-like protists: These protozoans are animal-like protists. They are consumers and they move in different ways. An amoeba uses its pseudopods to move, the flagellate uses its flagellum or whip-like tail to move, and a paramecium uses its cilia to move. Parasitic protists (and all other parasites) get their nutrients from their hosts. Parasites need to live off another organisms body to get food.

3 Ways Protists can move around:

Flagella – whip-like tails Cilia – Hundred of tiny hairs Pseudopodia – “False Feet”

  • Plant-like protists: algae and seaweed are plant like protists. These organisms are like plants because they get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis. They are producers, in that they produce their own energy from sunlight.
  • Fungus-like protists: slime molds and water molds are fungus like protists. Fungus-like protists can be decomposers or parasites.

Fungi: eukaryotes that don’t eat, butare decomposers because they absorb nutrients from dead organisms and organic matter to get energy. Examples of fungi are molds, mildew and mushrooms.

Different types of fungi: Threadlike: bread moldSac fungi:yeast

Club fungi: mushroomsImperfect:penicillin

Plant: Producersthat use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis.

Animal: Consumers that eat plants and other animals for food and most move.

Characteristics of bacteria and viruses how are similar,how are they different?

Bacteria both Viruses

reproduce on their own / have DNA / can’t reproduce without a host
can be helpful to humans / reproduce / do not need energy
prokaryotic cells / can harm or have no affect on us / not made of cells
examples:E.Coli, salmonella, lactobacillus / Examples: cold, flu, HIV

*Viruses are not considered to be living things because they do not have cells, do not use energy and they cannot reproduce on their own.

The characteristics of the six kingdoms

Kingdom / Prokaryotic/
Eukaryotic / Heterotrophic/
Autotrophic / Unicellular/
Multicellular / Examples
Archaebacteria / Prokaryotic / either / Unicellular / Heat lovers
Eubacteria / Prokayotic / either / Unicellular / E-Coli, Strep
Protists / Eukaryotic / either / either / Seaweed, Amoeba
Slime mold
Fungi / Eukaryotic / Heterotrophic / either / Yeast, mushroom,
mildew
Plant / Eukaryotic / Autotrophic / Multicellular / Rose, apple tree
Animal / Eukaryotic / Heterotrophic / Multicellular / Giraffe, human