Name: ……………………………………………
The variety of living organisms
All living organisms can be grouped or 'classified' using a classification system that consists of five
kingdoms. These five kingdoms are:
Eukaryotic organisms are the organisms who has membrane bound organelles in their cytoplasm. They
can be multicellular or single-celled and are made up of cells that contain a nucleus with a distinct
membrane
Prokaryotic organisms are the organisms who do not have membrane bound organelles. They
are always single-celled and do not contain a nucleus (instead, the nuclear material of prokaryotic cells is
found in the cytoplasm)
Ex: Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms
Prokaryotic cells are smaller than eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
1|Page
Animals
The main features of animals:
Animals are multicellular and their cells contain a true nucleus (with a distinct membrane)
Their cells do not have cell walls.
Their cells do not contain chloroplasts (so they are unable to carry out photosynthesis)
They feed on organic substances made by other living things. Animals are called Heterotrophs as
they depend on others for their nutrition. A variety of feeding habits – Carnivorous, Herbivorous,
Omnivorous.
They often store carbohydrates as glycogen
Animals have developed alimentary canal to ingest large food particles, muscle and skeletal
system, endocrine system, transport system, an efficient nervous system ect.
Basic (typical) animal cell
Ex: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Plants
The main features of plants:
Plants are multicellular and their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane.
Their cells have cell walls made out of cellulose
Plants do have chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis. They synthesis glucose and other food
for them. Hence called as autotrophic eukaryotes.
They store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose
They do not have nervous coordination
They may have roots, stems and leaves and show both asexual and sexual reproduction.
2|Page
At least some parts of any plant are green, caused by the presence of the pigment chlorophyll which
absorbs energy from sunlight for the process of photosynthesis.
Ex: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The difference in between the animal cell & plant cell
Animal cell Plant cell
3|Page
Fungi
They range in size from unicellular (eg: yeast) to multicellular (eg: mushrooms).
Fungi are simple organisms which are not photosynthetic. They never have chlorophyll. Fungi are
heterotrophic, which means they depend on other organisms for food. Some are parasitic
(depends on living host organisms while harming them). Fungi are saprotrophic (depends on dead
matter) as well. Some fungi show symbiotic relationships such as lichens. (Algae and fungi,
together having mutual relationship is called lichens, in which algae provides carbon source and
fungi provides minerals for survival)
Multicellular fungi have a multicellular filamentous structure called mycelium. A mycelium
comprises of many hyphae (singular form is hypha). Hyphae are made up of cells. Cells are
eukaryotic cells. Fungi have membrane bound organelles and a true nucleus.
Cell wall is made up of chitin, a polysaccharide. Their nucleus contains DNA and RNA. The cells in
the hypha are sometimes interlinked through internal cross walls called “septa”. Thus they have a
free flowing cytoplasm. And their cytoplasm is called as multinucleate.
They have glycogen stores.
Fungi reproduction is through asexually by budding or by spores. Depending on environmental
conditions dimorphism can be present. (dimorphism – showing female and male fungi
morphologies) Thus sexual reproduction is possible.
Ex: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
4|Page
Protoctists
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Ex:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5|Page
Prokaryotes
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Ex:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6|Page
The difference in between prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Main features Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Types of pathogens
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Many microorganisms are pathogens including:
Bacteria
Fungi
Protoctists
Viruses
Not all species within these groups (apart from the viruses) are pathogens, as many bacteria, fungi
and protoctists are harmless and do not cause disease.
However, all viruses are pathogenic as they can only exist by living inside the living cells of other
organisms for their reproduction and survival.
Pathogenic bacteria Pathogenic fungi Pathogenic protoctista
7|Page
Viruses
Viruses do not exhibit living characteristics except reproduction. Therefore viruses do not classified under
any kingdom.
Viruses are “tiny organisms”, which are much smaller than bacteria.
They are considered as in between living and non-living.
Unlike prokaryotes and eukaryotes viruses do not have cell structure. They are not surrounded by a
partially permeable membrane containing cytoplasm with organelles.
They do not show the characteristic living features except reproduction.
Viruses are much simpler in structure, consisting genetic material either DNA or RNA and a
protective coat (capsid) of protein molecules.
Viruses range in size from about 20 - 300 nm.
All viruses are parasitic because they can only reproduce by infecting and taking over living cells.
The virus DNA or RNA takes over the protein synthesising machinery of the host cell, which then
helps to make new virus particles.
Ex:…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8|Page
Virus Bacteria Fungi Plants Animals
9|Page
10 | P a g e
