Classification

Why and how do we group

living things?
 Objective
s
• The characteristics of living things.
• Naming organisms using the binomial system.
• How living organisms are classified.
• How to use dichotomous keys to identify organisms.
 Why do we classify?
We classify living things in groups...

1 2 3
To make the study of To clearly communicate To explore how various
organisms easier about living things with living things are related to
people despite language each other
differences
Characteristics of living things
Movement
• All organisms are able to move to some extent.
• Most animals can move their whole body from place to place and plants can slowly move parts of
themselves.
Respiration
It is the process of breaking down(nutrient molecules) glucose and other substances like amino
acids etc. inside their cells, to release energy that they can use.
Sensitivity
• All organisms pick up information about changes in their environment and react to the
changes.
• The ability to detect and responds to changes in the environment.
 Growth
• A permanent increase in size.
• All living organisms begin small and get larger, by the growth of their cell and by adding
new cells to their body.
Reproductio
n
• The process that makes more of the same kind of organism.
• Organisms are able to make new organisms of the same species as themselves.
Excretion
• All organisms produces unwanted or toxic waste products as a result of their metabolic
reactions, and these must be removed from body.
• This process of removing organic nitrogenous waste from the body is known as Excretion.
Nutrition
• Organisms take substances from their environment and use them to provide energy or
materials to make new cells.
• Taking of materials for energy, growth and development.
In addition to these seven characteristics, living organisms have another feature in common.
under the microscope we can see that organisms are made of cells,
these cells all have:
• Cytoplasm
• a cell membrane
• A chemical called DNA, making up their genetic material
• Ribosomes for protein synthesis
• enzymes to carry out the anaerobic respiration
Classificatio
n means putting things into groups.
Classification
• There are many ways in which we could group living things. for example, we could put all
the organisms with legs into one group and all those without legs into another.
• Classifying things make it easier to study them. for example we put horse, dog and
humans into a single group mammals because they share certain features that are not
found in other groups.

Mammals
• In the past, the only way that biologists could decide to classify an organism was based
on their morphology and anatomy. these methods are still used today but now we have
new tools which help to workout evolutionary relationships and one of the most powerful
of these is the study of DNA.

• DNA is the chemical from which our chromosomes are made, it is the genetic material
passed from one generation to the next.

• Each DNA molecule is made of strings of smaller molecules, containing four different
bases called A,C,T and G can be arranged in any order.
 The Classification
System
• Linnaeus was the first person to classify organisms scientifically in 1735.
• He divided all the different kinds of living things into species and recognized 12000
different species.
• Species are the group of organism that share the same appearance and behavior, also
the members of same species can breed together successfully and the offspring they
produce can also breed.
• Species are grouped into larger groups called Genera.
• Each genus contain species with similar characteristics.
• Several genera are then grouped into a Family, families into orders, orders into class,
Class into phyla and finally Phyla into Kingdom
 Using the Linnaean Classification

KINGDOM ANIMALIA

Carl Linnaeus’ system PHYLUM CHORDATA

consists of a hierarchy of
CLASS MAMMALIA
groups, from broad to more
specific ones. PRIMATE
ORDER

Let’s take a look at how FAMILY HOMINIDAE

human beings are classified.
GENUS HOMO

SPECIES SAPIENS
 Binomial Naming System
• Linnaeus gave every species of living organism two name written in Latin. this is called
Binomial system.
• Binomial system: An internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an
organism is made up of two parts showing the Genus and Species.
• First name is Genus of organism and always has a capital letter.
• The second name is the name of its species and always has a small letter. This two word
name is called Binomial.
• For example: Wolf belongs to genus Canis and species lupus. its binomial is Canis lupus.
• When printed these names are written in italics and when handwritten it is underlined.
• The genus name can be abbreviated like: C. lupus
 The Kingdoms Of Living
Organisms
Kingdom Animalia
Animals are usually easy to recognize and can move actively, hunting for food.
Animal cells have no cell wall when seen under microscope.
Animals like Sea anemone were classified as plants earlier as they tend to stay fixed in one place
and their tentacles look rather like flower petals.

Characteristics of Animals
• Multicellular
• Have well defined nucleus but no cell wall or chloroplast
• Feed on organic matter made by other living organisms
Kingdom Plantae
Plants are mostly green due to chlorophyll, which enables them to make food through
photosynthesis. They can be flowering (with leaves, stems, roots, and flowers) or non-
flowering (like ferns and mosses). Adapted to stay in one place, plants have a spreading
shape to capture sunlight efficiently.
Characteristics of
Plants
• Multicellular
• cells have nucleus, cell wall made up of cellulose and often contain chloroplast.
• feed by photosynthesis
• may have root, stem and leaves
Kingdom Fungi
Fungi were once classified as plants but are now recognized as a separate kingdom. Unlike
plants, they lack chlorophyll and do not photosynthesize. Instead, they feed saprophytically or
parasitically on organic matter. Fungi have various uses—mushrooms as food, yeast for ethanol
and bread, and antibiotics like penicillin. However, some fungi cause food decay and diseases
like ringworm and athlete’s foot.

Chracteristics Of Fungi

• usually multicellular
• have nuclei
• have cell walls, not made up of cellulose instead made up of Chitin
• do not have chlorophyll
• feed by saprophytic or parasitic nutrition
 Kingdom Protoctista
The kingdom Protoctista includes diverse organisms, all with a nucleus in their cells. Some
have plant-like features (chloroplasts, cellulose cell walls), while others have animal-like cells
without these. Most are unicellular, but some, like seaweeds, are multicellular.

Characteristics of Protoctista
• Multicellular or Unicellular
• cells have a nucleus
• cells may or may not have a cell wall and chloroplast.
• some feed by photosynthesis and other feed on organic substances made by other organisms.
 Prokaryotes
Bacteria have unique cells without a nucleus, distinguishing them from other organisms.
While some cause diseases like TB and cholera, many are beneficial—playing roles in the
carbon and nitrogen cycles, biotechnology, sewage treatment, and insulin production. Some
bacteria photosynthesize, and as the oldest known life forms, they are believed to be the first
organisms to evolve.

Characteristics of Prokaryotes

• often unicellular
• Have no nucleus
• have cell wall but not made up of cellulose
• have no organelles like mitochondria
 Viruse
• Viruses are tiny infectious agents that can only reproduce inside living cells.
s
• They are much smaller than bacteria and are not considered truly alive since they lack a cellular
structure and cannot carry out life processes independently.
• Viruses cause diseases like colds, flu, and AIDS but are not considered alive since they cannot
function outside a host cell. Once inside, they take over the cell's machinery to replicate,
eventually bursting out and infecting new cells, often killing the host cell.
• Viruses lack movement, feeding, excretion, sensitivity, growth, or independent reproduction.
• They are not made of cells but consist of RNA surrounded by proteins and are extremely small,
measuring around 10 nanometres.
 Protei
n

Genetic material
(RNA)

Structure Of Virus
Kingdom
Animalia
 Phylum Vertebrata
• These are animals with a supporting rod running along the length of the body. The most
familiar ones have a backbone and are called vertebrates.
• The vertebral column surrounds and protects the spinal cord.
Class Pisces (Fish)
• The fish all live in water, except for one or two like the mudskipper, which can spend short
period of time breathing air.

Characteristics

• vertebrates with scaly skin .

• have gills
• have fins
 Class
Amphibia
Most amphibians live on land, they always go back to the water to breed.
examples: Frog, Toad and Salamander.

Characteristics

• Have moist and scale less skin. Skin is rich in mucus glands.
• These are cold blooded animals.
• Lay eggs in water and tadpole lives in water.
• Adults often lives on land.
• Larva has gills and adult has lungs.
• Have three chambered heart, two auricles and one ventricle.
• Fertilization is external. Development is indirect with tadpole stage which undergoes
metamorphosis to become adult.
Class Reptiles
Reptiles do not need to go back to the water to breed because their eggs have a waterproof
shell which stop them from drying out.

Characteristics
• vertebrates with scaly skin.
• lay eggs with rubbery shells.
• these are cold blooded animals.
• Skin is dry, impermeable and devoid of glands.
• Heart is three chambered usually but four chambered in Crocodiles.
• Respiration with the help of lungs only.
• Examples: Crocodiles, Snake, lizards, turtles and Tortoises.
Class Aves (Birds)
The birds, like reptiles lay eggs with waterproof shells.

Characteristics

• Vertebrates with feathers.

• Forelimbs have become wings.
• lay egg with hard shell.
• Endothermic.
• Have a beak.
• Examples: Columba ( pigeon),
Pavo (Parrot), Corvus (Crow), Struthio (ostrich)
etc.
Class Mammalia
Characteristics

• Vertebrates with hairs.

• have a placenta.
• young ones feed on milk from mammary gland.
• endothermic.
• have a diaphragm.
• heart has four chambers.
• have different type of teeth ( Incisors, canines, premolars and molars)
• Example: Horse, Dog, Lion and Human beings.
Phylum Arthropoda
• Arthropods are animals with jointed legs, but no backbone.
• have a waterproof exoskeleton of chitin that has allowed them to live on dry land.

Class Insecta

Very successful group of animals due to presence of exoskeleton of chitin and trachea which
help them to stopping water from evaporating from the insects body so they can live in dry
place.

Characteristics:
1. Arthropods with three pairs of jointed legs.
2.have two pair of wings ( one or both may be vestigial)
3.Breathe through trachea.
4.body is divided into head, thorax and abdomen.
Crustaceans
• Arthropods with more than four pairs of jointed legs.
• Breathe through gills.
• Most of them live in wet places and many are aquatic
Arachanids
• Arthropods with four pairs of jointed legs.
• Breathe through gills and book lungs.
• Example: Spiders, Ticks, and Scorpions.
Myriapods
• Body consist of many segments,
• Each segment has jointed legs.
• Examples: Centipedes and Millipedes.
Kingdom Plantae
• Plants are organisms with cells that have cell walls made of cellulose.
• Some parts of a plant are green due to the pigment chlorophyll.
• Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight energy, which is used in photosynthesis.
• Photosynthesis helps plants make glucose using carbon dioxide and water.
• Plants include mosses, ferns, and flowering plants.
Ferns
• Plants with root, stem and leaves.
• Have leaves called Fronds.
• Do no produce flower and seeds.
• Reproductive organs are jacketed and multicellular.
• Reproduce by spores.
 Flowering Plants
• Common and diverse – range from tiny plants to large trees.
• Key Characteristics:
⚬ Have roots, stems, and leaves.
⚬ Reproduce through flowers and seeds.
⚬ Seeds are formed inside the ovary of the flower.
Classification of Flowering Plants
1. Monocotyledons (Monocots)
⚬ Have one cotyledon in their seeds.
⚬ Usually have a branching root system.
⚬ Leaves have parallel veins.
2.Dicotyledons (Dicots)
⚬ Have two cotyledons in their seeds.
⚬ Usually have a tap root system.
⚬ Leaves are broader and have a network of branching veins.
key
Identifying Organisms Using a Dichotomous Key
• If you don’t know an organism’s name, you can look for a picture in a book.
• If no exact picture is found, you can use a key to identify it.
• A dichotomous key helps identify organisms by presenting two choices at a time.
• Each choice leads to another set of descriptions until you find the organism’s name.
• The word “dichotomous” means “branching into two”, referring to the two choices at each
step.
Example of a Dichotomous Key:
1. Jointed limbs?
⚬ Yes → Go to Step 2
⚬ No → Earthworm
2.More than 5 pairs of jointed limbs?
⚬ Yes → Centipede
⚬ No → Go to Step 3
3. First pair of limbs form large claws?
⚬ Yes → Crab
⚬ No → Go to Step 4
4.Number of limbs?
⚬ 3 pairs → Locust
⚬ 4 pairs → Spider
Example Use:
• If identifying organism B, check Step 1 – it has jointed limbs, so move to Step 2.
• In Step 2, it has more than 5 pairs of jointed limbs, so it is a centipede.
Constructing Keys
List Features That Clearly Vary Between the Flowers
• Choose features that cannot be mistaken, such as:
⚬ Number of petals
⚬ Color of the flower
⚬ Leaf shape or arrangement
• Select One Feature to Divide the Flowers into Two Groups
Example: Flower color
⚬ One group: Red flowers
⚬ Another group: Yellow flowers
• Further Divide Each Group Using Another Clear Feature
Within red flowers:
⚬ Five petals → Flower A
⚬ More than five petals → Flower B
Within yellow flowers:
⚬ Rounded petals → Flower C
⚬ Pointed petals → Flower D
3. Refine and Simplify the Key
⚬ Ensure each step has two clear choices.
⚬ Keep the statements simple and precise.
4. Test the Key on a Friend
⚬ If they struggle, adjust wording or structure.
Example Dichotomous Key for Four Flowers
1. Flower is red → Go to Step 2
2.Flower is yellow → Go to Step 3
3.Has five petals → Flower A
4.Has more than five petals → Flower B
5.Petals are rounded → Flower C
6.Petals are pointed → Flower D
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