Diversity of Living Things
Essay Preview: Diversity of Living Things
Report this essay
Diversity of living thingsLevels of Classification -There are 8 levels of classification, called taxa. These are used to classify and organize all living things. These eight include:- Domain-Kingdom-Phylum-Class-Order-Family-Genus-Species -Domain is the most inclusive level, then kingdom gets a little bit more exclusive as it goes down the taxa. -using taxa, if two organisms are greatly related, they will have many taxa in common. Same goes if two organisms are vaguely related, they will have little taxa in common. -Binomial nomenclature is the naming system for organisms. You use the Genus and species name, from the taxa of the organism, to name the organism. The genus name comes first, with the first letter of the name capitalized. Following is the species name, all letters lowercase. The final name (Genus species) is underlined, or italicized. (eg. Homo sapiens)CellsEukaryotic(eg. Protists, Plants, Fungi, Animals)Prokaryotic(eg. Bacteria, Archaea)Structure-DNA in nucleus bounded by membrane-Genome- Several chromosomes-mitosis and meiosis-multi-cellular (most)-sexual reproduction is most common-DNA circular, not bounded by membrane-Genome- one chromosome-cell division binary fission-uni-cellular(most)-asexual production is most common-mitochondria and other membrane-bound are not presentSize-Large (100-1000um)-Small (1-10um)Metabolism-Most are aerobic-most are anaerobicBacteria-3 main types (cocci, bacilli, and spirilla)[pic 1] -REPRODUCTION IN BACTERIA -Binary fission(see def)[pic 2]-Endospore formation(see def)[pic 3] -conjugation(see def)[pic 4]The six Kingdoms: COMPAREDArcheaCell type- ProkaryoticStructure- UnicellularResembles primitive clusters of moleculesHave cell walls and cell membranes, but are chemically different from EubacteriaMetabolism- Autotrophic or heterotrophicReproduction- Asexual reproduction Done by binary fission (see binary fission heading)Habitat- Live in harsh enviromentsDivided into phyla based on habitat
Acidophiles- low pH environment Thermophiles- temperatures>80 degrees Halophiles- salt concentration up to 15% Methanogens- oxygen-free Nutrition- Photoautotroph (light, CO2) Chemoautotroph (inorganic chemicals, CO2) Photoheterotroph (light, organic chemicals) Chemoheterotroph (organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals)EubacteriaCell type- ProkaryoticStructure- UnicellularCell wall structure depends on the arrangements of amino acids in the cell walls -Gram-positive -Gram-negative Round, rod-shaped or spiral Found in pairs (di-), clusters (staphyio-), or chains (strepto-)RNA- spirochaetes, chamydias, cyanobacteria, proteobacteriaMetabolism- Heterotropic or Autotropic Reproduction- Binary fissionHabitat- Varied Aquatic or Terrestrial Most common BacteriaNutrition- Photoautotroph (light, CO2) Chemoautotroph (inorganic chemicals, CO2) Photoheterotroph (light, organic chemicals) Chemoheterotroph (organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals)ProtistaTYPES- animal-like, plant-like, fungi-likeCell type- Eukaroytic, Structure- Mainly unicellularMetabolism- Autotrophic or heterotrophicReproduction- Unicellular protists reproduce byAsexually- Binary Fission Sexually- ConjunctionMulticellular protists have a more complex life cycle, which may involve alternation of generations where haploid egg/sperm produced is followed by diploid zygotesHabitat- Mainly found in Aquatic or moist terrestrialNutrition- Heterotrophic or AutotrophicFungiCell type- EukaroyticStructure- Mainly Multicellular Sessile Cell walls composed of Chitin Include basic structural units including -Hyphae -mycelium -fruiting bodyMetabolism- HeterotrophicReproduction- Mostly Asexual Main three methods are: Budding- small cell forms on parent cell Fragmentation-small piece of mycelium breaks off Spore production- production of small haploid cells