Characteristics, Classification & Features of Organisms (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology)

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  • What does the G in MRS GREN stand for?

    The G in MRS GREN stands for growth.

  • What do the two Rs in MRS GREN stand for?

    The two Rs in MRS GREN stand for reproduction and respiration.

  • Define the term sensitivity in the context of MRS GREN.

    Sensitivity refers to an organism's ability to detect and respond to stimuli in its environment.

  • What is movement in living organisms?

    Movement is any action causing a change in position or place by an organism.

  • How were living organisms traditionally classified into groups?

    Traditional classification makes use of the structural characteristics of living organisms, e.g. body shape and internal anatomy.

  • True or False?

    The binomial naming system uses the family and genus levels of classification.

    False.

    The binomial naming system uses genus and species.

  • Canis lupus is the scientific name for wolves. What does this name tell us about wolf classification?

    The name Canis lupus tells us that wolves belong to the genus Canis and the species lupus.

  • What is the definition of a species?

    A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

  • What is a dichotomous key?

    A dichotomous key is a key used to identify organisms based on a series of questions about their features. It leads the user through to the name of the organism by giving two descriptions at a time and asking them to choose.

  • True or False?

    In a dichotomous key you can start from any point in the key to identify an organism.

    False.

    In a dichotomous key you need to follow the statements from the beginning to successfully identify an organism.

  • What does it mean to classify organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationship? (Extended Tier Only)

    Classifying organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationship means grouping organisms on the basis of shared common ancestry; organisms with more recent common ancestors are grouped more closely than those with more distant common ancestors.

  • How does DNA sequencing technology contribute to organism classification? (Extended Tier Only)

    DNA sequencing technology means that organisms can be classified on the basis of their DNA base sequences rather than on the basis of their observable characteristics.

  • True or False?

    Groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor have DNA base sequences that are more similar than those that share only a distant ancestor. (Extended Tier Only)

    True.

    The more recent the common ancestor, the more DNA base sequences the organisms will have in common.

  • True or False?

    The DNA base sequences of mammals are more closely related to other mammals than to any other vertebrate groups. (Extended Tier Only)

    True.

    Mammals are more closely related to other mammals than to any other vertebrate group, so their DNA base sequences will be more similar to each other than to those of any other group.

  • What are the main features used to classify animals into the animal kingdom?

    The main features used to classify animals into the animal kingdom include:

    • animals are multicellular

    • animal cells have a nucleus, but no cell wall or chloroplasts

    • animals feed on organic molecules contained within the bodies of other organisms

  • True or False?

    All animals are multicellular organisms.

    True.

    All animals are multicellular organisms.

  • True or False?

    Animal cells contain chloroplasts.

    False.

    Animal cells do not contain chloroplasts.

  • What are the main features used to classify plants into the plant kingdom?

    The main features used to classify plants into the plant kingdom include:

    • plants are multicellular

    • plant cells contain a nucleus, cell wall and chloroplasts

    • plants make their own organic molecules by photosynthesis

  • Define the term vertebrate.

    Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone.

  • What are the main groups of vertebrates?

    The main groups of vertebrates are:

    • mammals

    • birds

    • reptiles

    • amphibians

    • fish

  • What are the main features of mammals?

    The main features of mammals include:

    • fur, or hair

    • mammary glands for the feeding of young

    • regulation of internal body temperature

    • diaphragm

    • four-chambered heart

  • Define the term arthropod.

    Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs.

  • What are the main groups of arthropods?

    The main groups of arthropods are:

    • myriapods

    • insects

    • arachnids

    • crustaceans

  • What are the main features of crustaceans within the arthropod group?

    Crustaceans have:

    • two pairs of antennae

    • a hard exoskeleton

    • separate body segments

    • more than four pairs of jointed legs

    • gills

  • What are the five kingdoms in the biological classification system? (Extended Tier Only)

    The five kingdoms are:

    • animal

    • plants

    • fungi

    • protoctist

    • prokaryotes

  • What are the main features of fungi? (Extended Tier Only)

    Features of fungi are:

    • they are usually (but not always) multicellular

    • cells contain nuclei

    • cell walls are not made from cellulose

    • fungi feed by saprophytic or parasitic nutrition

  • What are protoctists? (Extended Tier Only)

    Protoctists are unicellular or multicellular organisms with a nucleus. Some may have cell walls and chloroplasts while some do not, and some can photosynthesise while others feed on organic substances.

  • What are the main characteristics of prokaryotes? (Extended Tier Only)

    Features of prokaryotes include:

    • they are unicellular

    • they have cell walls that are not made of cellulose

    • their cells contain cytoplasm, but no nucleus or any other membrane-bound structures

  • True or False?

    All plants reproduce using flowers and seeds. (Extended Tier Only)

    False.

    Some plants, like ferns, reproduce by spores instead of flowers and seeds.

  • State two differences between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous leaves. (Extended Tier Only)

    Two differences between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous leaves are that:

    • monocotyledonous leaves have parallel leaf veins while dicotyledonous leaves have a network of veins

    • monocotyledonous leaves are narrow while dicotyledon leaves tend to be broader.

  • What is the key difference between the flowers of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants? (Extended Tier Only)

    The key difference between the flowers of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants is that monocotyledonous flowers have petals in multiples of 3, while dicotyledonous flowers have petals in multiples of 4 or 5.

  • Describe the basic structure of a virus. (Extended Tier Only)

    A virus consists of genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a protein coat.