12 Questions
What is the primary mode of nutrition in plants?
Holophytic
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes animals from plants?
Mode of nutrition
Which of the following organisms is NOT a characteristic example of a plant?
Bacteria
What is the primary reason why humans depend on plants?
For food and oxygen
What is a characteristic of some unicellular plants?
They are always motile
Why are certain plants, such as fungi, considered to be saprophytic?
They obtain their food by decomposing organic matter
What is the primary reason for classifying organisms?
To facilitate communication among biologists
What does the term 'identification' refer to in biology?
The process of assigning an organism to a group
What is the primary advantage of a binomial system of nomenclature?
It provides a universal system of naming
Who popularized the binomial system of nomenclature?
Carolus Linnaeus
What is the term for the study of the classification, naming, and gathering of classification data?
Systematics
What is the purpose of using a multiplicity of criteria in classification?
To classify organisms naturally
Study Notes
Classification of Living Organisms
- Living organisms are categorized into two groups based on their cell organization: Prokaryota (protocells) and Eukaryota (eucells)
- Prokaryota are excluded from the plant kingdom, except for bacteria and blue-green algae
- Three principal criteria differentiate animals from plants:
- Mode of nutrition: plants obtain food holophytically, while animals get their food holozoically
- Cell wall composition: plants have cellulose cell walls, while animals do not
- Mobility: animals are generally motile, while plants are not
Importance of Studying Plants
- Humans and animals depend completely on plants for various resources, such as:
- Food
- Drugs
- Raw materials for textiles and cordage
- Insecticides
- Fuel
- Plants also perform activities that can be valuable or dangerous for humans, such as:
- Weeds
- Food and wood spoilage
- Fermentation
Variation and Classification in Biology
- Classification of organisms can be based on various criteria, including:
- Use to humans
- Habitat
- Biological attributes
- Classification methods can be artificial (using very few criteria) or natural (using a multiplicity of criteria)
- The theory of evolution led to the development of classifications showing evolutionary relationships
Identification and Systematics
- Identification is the process of assigning an unknown entity to a previously established group
- Systematics is the broader subject encompassing taxonomy, naming (nomenclature), and gathering and assessment of classification data
- Nomenclature is the system of naming, which helps facilitate communication and avoid confusion among professionals
Binomial System of Naming
- Each organism is assigned two Latin names, followed by the name of the person who first described the organism
- The binomial system of naming was popularized by Carolus Linnaeus
- Example: Banana spp., e.g., Musa paradisiaca L. and Musa sapientum L., where Musa is the generic name, paradisiaca and sapientum are specific names, and L. is the authority
Learn about the two groups of living organisms, prokaryota and eukaryota, and how to distinguish animals from plants based on their characteristics.
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