Genus
A classification group that contains species with similar characteristics
Family
A classification group that contain genera with similar characteristics
Kingdom
The largest division in the classification of organisms.
Heterotrophic
Getting food by eating and digesting the tissues of other organisms
Autotrophic
Fungi
Making food from small molecules using an energy source, such as light in
photosynthesis.
Getting food by digesting the tissues of other organisms outside of the body
and absorbing the digested food.
Multicellular organisms with a nucleus. Are heterotrophic feeders. Have no cell
wall - e.g. humans
Multicellular organisms with a nucleus. Are autotrophic feeders who use
chlorophyll and have a cell wall
Multicellular organisms with a nucleus. Saprophytic feeders with a cell wall.
Protoctista
Mostly unicellular (single celled organisms) with a nucleus such as
Prokaryotae
Unicellular (single celled) with no nucleus – e.g. amoeba
Chordata
Vertebrates
Phylum where organisms that have a supporting rod that runs the length of
their body
Belong to the phylum chordate and have a backbone (e.g. humans)
Homeotherm
Organism able to maintain their own body temperature (e.g. humans)
Poikliotherm
Oviparious
Organism that is unable to maintain its own body temperature & relies of the
environment
These vertebrates lay eggs
Viviparious
Give birth to live young (e.g. mammals)
Fish
Poikliotherms that have gills to take in oxygen from water.
Amphibians
Reptiles
Poikliotherms that have gills when young but adults have lungs and can absorb
oxygen through their skin (e.g.frogs)
Poikliotherms that have lungs and lay eggs (oviparious) e.g. snakes
Birds
Homeotherms that lay eggs such as sparrows
Mammals
Homeotherms that are viviparious (e.g. humans and monkeys)
Species
A group of living organisms which can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Hybrid
Binomial System
An offspring produced by two different species (e.g. a liger) that are usually
infertile
Naming system – tells us the Genus and species of an organism
Continuous variation
Where there can be any number of values within a range (e.g. height or speed)
Discontinuous variation
Distinct groups with NO values in between – e.g. eye colour
Adaptations
Characteristics of an organism that fit the location / environment they live in
Normal Distribution
curve
Graph that shows the range of continuous variation in a population (e.g. the
various heights of people)
Evolution
Gradual change over long periods of time.
Natural Selection
Characteristics that benefit survival are naturally selected and passed on
Variation
Competition
differences in characteristics– some variations are better adapted to the
environment than others
Individuals compete for resources (mates, land, food, shelter).
Survival of the fittest
Those better adapted to the environment will survive & pass on their genes
Saprophytic
Animalia
Plantae
Extinct
Nucleus
Happens when the environment changes and animals do not have adaptations
that helps then survive
Control centre of the cell that contains 23 pairs of chromosomes
Chromosomes
There are 23 pairs and are made op of a chemical called DNA
Gene
A short section of DNA
Alleles
Different versions of the same gene
Dominant
Version of a gene (allele) that will always have an effect
Recessive
Version of a gene (allele) that where both must be present to have an effect
Genotype
The alleles in an organism E.g. BB or Bb or bb
Phenotype
What an organism looks like (it’s features)
Homozygous
Both alleles for a characteristic are the same BB or bb
Heterozygous
Both alleles for a characteristic are different. Bb
Gamete
Sperm or egg cell
Cystic Fibrosis
Genetic disease – requires 2 recessive alleles. Sticky mucus builds up in lungs
and intestine
Genetic disease – requires 2 recessive alleles. Red blood cells sickle shape and
block arteries to cause pain and tiredness.
Sickle cell