Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which characteristic is NOT essential for the survival of individual organisms?
Which characteristic is NOT essential for the survival of individual organisms?
- Responsiveness
- Reproduction (correct)
- Growth
- Metabolism
What process occurs when a single parent organism creates a copy of itself?
What process occurs when a single parent organism creates a copy of itself?
- Mitosis
- Sexual reproduction
- Fission (correct)
- Budding
What term describes the total of all chemical reactions in an organism?
What term describes the total of all chemical reactions in an organism?
- Respiration
- Homeostasis
- Photosynthesis
- Metabolism (correct)
Which type of reproduction generally results in genetically similar offspring?
Which type of reproduction generally results in genetically similar offspring?
Which of the following is a characteristic of living organisms that distinguishes them from non-living objects?
Which of the following is a characteristic of living organisms that distinguishes them from non-living objects?
In which type of organisms does growth and reproduction often occur simultaneously?
In which type of organisms does growth and reproduction often occur simultaneously?
What is primarily responsible for the movements and activities of an organism?
What is primarily responsible for the movements and activities of an organism?
Which statement about growth in living organisms is TRUE?
Which statement about growth in living organisms is TRUE?
What process is referred to as anabolism?
What process is referred to as anabolism?
What is a defining property of living organisms?
What is a defining property of living organisms?
Which of the following statements about life span is accurate?
Which of the following statements about life span is accurate?
What does biodiversity refer to?
What does biodiversity refer to?
What does systematics in biology pertain to?
What does systematics in biology pertain to?
What is the primary purpose of nomenclature in biology?
What is the primary purpose of nomenclature in biology?
Which of the following components make up the scientific name of an organism?
Which of the following components make up the scientific name of an organism?
How many living organisms are currently known to science?
How many living organisms are currently known to science?
What does the first word in a biological name represent?
What does the first word in a biological name represent?
In the name Mangifera indica, what does 'indica' refer to?
In the name Mangifera indica, what does 'indica' refer to?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the taxonomic hierarchy?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the taxonomic hierarchy?
What is the category that includes one or more related genera?
What is the category that includes one or more related genera?
Which of the following correctly describes a species?
Which of the following correctly describes a species?
What is taxonomy primarily concerned with?
What is taxonomy primarily concerned with?
Which of the following correctly describes how biological names are written?
Which of the following correctly describes how biological names are written?
What is the term for a rank or level in the hierarchical classification of organisms?
What is the term for a rank or level in the hierarchical classification of organisms?
What is the highest taxonomic category that includes all plants?
What is the highest taxonomic category that includes all plants?
Which of the following best describes a herbarium?
Which of the following best describes a herbarium?
What is the purpose of a taxonomic key?
What is the purpose of a taxonomic key?
Which classification includes families such as felidae and canidae?
Which classification includes families such as felidae and canidae?
Which term is used specifically for the animal kingdom?
Which term is used specifically for the animal kingdom?
What type of facility is a zoological park?
What type of facility is a zoological park?
What is a botanical garden primarily used for?
What is a botanical garden primarily used for?
What information does a herbarium sheet typically include?
What information does a herbarium sheet typically include?
Study Notes
Characteristics of Living Organisms
- Life is defined by complex molecular organization, exhibiting growth, development, reproduction, and responsiveness.
- Growth: In multicellular organisms, mass increases through cell division. Plants exhibit continuous growth; animals have a growth limit. Unicellular organisms grow by cell division, while non-living entities grow externally.
- Reproduction: Necessary for population perpetuation, not individual survival. Involves sexual reproduction (two parents) and asexual reproduction (single parent). Asexual methods include fission and vegetative propagation.
- Metabolism: Encompasses all chemical reactions in an organism, categorized into catabolism (breakdown processes) and anabolism (building up processes).
- Consciousness: Awareness and response to surroundings. All living organisms respond to stimuli, but humans possess self-awareness.
- Life Span: Every organism experiences stages of birth, growth, maturity, and death.
- Living organisms are self-replicating, evolving, and interactive systems, demonstrating biodiversity across different species.
Biodiversity
- Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, with approximately 1.7 - 1.8 million species recognized, including around 1.25 million animals and 0.5 million plants.
Identification, Nomenclature, and Classification
- Systematics: The branch of biology focused on classifying organisms into categories for study.
- Identification: Determining an organism's correct name and classification through comparative analysis.
- Nomenclature: Standardizes organism naming according to International Codes (ICBN for plants, ICZN for animals).
- Biological Nomenclature: Established by Carolus Linnaeus, comprises two components: generic name (genus) and specific epithet (species).
- Rules of Nomenclature:
- Names are often in Latin and italicized.
- The genus name is capitalized; species name is lowercase.
- When handwritten, both components are underlined.
Taxonomy and Taxonomic Hierarchy
- Classification: Organizing organisms into categories based on observable traits.
- Taxonomy: Classification based on characteristics, developmental processes, and ecological data.
- Hierarchical Taxonomic Categories:
- Kingdom: Highest category (e.g., Plantae, Animalia).
- Division/Phylum: Grouping based on major traits (plants use "division," animals use "phylum").
- Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species: Further subdivisions based on relatedness and shared features.
Taxonomic Aids
- Herbarium: Collection of dried, pressed plant specimens used for study and classification.
- Botanical Gardens: Living collections of plants with labels for identification and research.
- Museums: Educational institutions preserving biological specimens for reference.
- Zoological Parks: Facilities housing wild animals for observation and education about their behavior and ecology.
- Taxonomic Key: A tool for organism identification using contrasting characteristics in a dichotomous format.
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Description
Explore the fundamental traits that define living organisms, including growth, reproduction, metabolism, and consciousness. This quiz will test your understanding of how these characteristics differentiate living entities from non-living ones. Dive into the fascinating world of biology!
