Starter
Recap
Give definitions for these key words
 Taxonomy
 The study of the principles behind classification
 Classification
 The process of organising of living organisms into
groups.
 Natural classification – grouping according to how
closely organisms are related and reflects evolutionary
relationships
 Phylogeny
 The study of evolutionary relationships between
organisms
Learning Objectives
• Define characteristics of the organisms in the 5 kingdoms
• Understand organisms nomenclature
• Using keys
Success criteria
 Outline the characteristic features of the following five
kingdoms: Prokaryotae , Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae,
Animalia
 Outline the binomial system of nomenclature and the use
of scientific (Latin) names for species
 Use a dichotomous key to identify a group of at least six
plants, animals or microorganisms
 Outline the key
features of the 5
kingdoms, give some
examples
 (Use the PDF in the
folder as template)
PROKARYOTES
5 kingdoms
Prokaryotes (Monera)
 Bacteria
 Single celled (<5mm)
 No membrane bound
organelles e.g. nucleus,
mitochondria
Fungi
 Eukaryote
 Mycelium and hyphae
 Saprophytic (they cause
they decay of organic
matter
 Chitin (polysaccharide)
cell walls
Plantae
 Eukaryotic
 Multicellular
 Autotrophs (makes it’s
own food)
 Cellulose cell walls
Animalia
 Eukaryotic
 Multicellular
 Heterotrophs - get
energy originally from
plants
Protoctista
 Eukaryotic
 Single or multicellular
 Wide range of organisms
 Plant and animal like
features
 Autotrophic and
heterotrophic
Past Paper Question
Answers
Binomial System
 Originally started by Carl Linneaus
 Means ‘two names’
 Unique (Latin) name e.g. Homo sapiens
 Genus and a species name
 Genus always starts with a capital letter
 Can be abbreviated to H. sapiens
 If printed the text should be in italics of handwritten
the text is underlined
Binomial System:
Why was it needed?
 Different common name around the country
 Different common name in different countries
 Translation of language or dialects may give different
names
 Same common name may mean a different species in a
different part of the world
Dichotomous keys
 In biology, a practical method used to identify species.
 The key is written so that identification is done in
steps.
 At each step, features of the organism are used to
identify which one of two routes through the rest of
the key is appropriate to the organism being
identified.
Dichotomous keys
Design Principles:
 Each question divides the group of organisms into two
smaller groups based on a pair of alternative characteristics
 Subsequent groups may focus on more minor detail
 In most cases the characteristic will be readily observed or
measurable
 It is better to choose characteristics that are uninfluenced
by environmental variation
 Shape and number are often good characteristics on which
to base alternative pairings
 A complete key will have each type of organism being
classified separated with a final identifying name.
Dichotomous keys
 Practices keys using PDF files in folder
Plenary
 Jan 2013 question 1