Subtopic 1.

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Features of organisms
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1.3.1 () Contents
1.3.2 () 1.3.0 The big picture ()
1.3.1 Animals and plants ()
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1.3.2 Animal kingdom: Vertebrates ()
1.3.4 () 1.3.3 Animal kingdom: Arthropods ()
1.3.4 Plant kingdom (E) ()
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1.3.5 Five kingdom classification and viruses (E) ()

1.3.6 () 1.3.6 Practical: Classifying organisms ()

1.3.7 Summary and key terms ()
1.3.7 () 1.3.8 Checklist ()

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Section 1.3.0

The big picture

Have you ever seen a plant that looks like an animal? Or an animal that looks like a plant?

The stick insect in Figure 1 looks like a twig from a grass plant.
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Figure 1. Stick insect.

Credit: JamesBrey, Getty Images

How about the flowers on this plant from New Zealand (Figure 2)? They look a lot like lobster claws or parrot beaks.
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1.3.8 () Figure 2. The kaka-beak shrub (Clianthus puniceus).

Source: Bernard Spragg. NZ (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clianthus_puniceus_(Kaka_Beak)_(36835660085).jpg), Public domain, via

Wikimedia Commons

Despite sometimes appearing similar, plants and animals have distinct features that define them and place them in
different kingdoms. 

In this subtopic you will learn about other organisms that are neither plants or animals, such as mushrooms and bacteria.
You will do this by studying which features define an organism into a kingdom.
 Before you move on to the next section, read through the learning outcomes below and answer the section questions to
check that you have the prior knowledge required to understand this subtopic.
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1.3.1 ()  Learning intentions

1.3.2 () By the end of this subtopic, you will be able to:

1.3.3 () state and identify the main features of plants and animals used to place them in their respective kingdoms

1.3.4 () explain the main features of vertebrate and arthropod groups.

1.3.5 () If you take the extended course, you will also be able to:

1.3.6 () classify organisms into the five kingdoms

1.3.7 () classify ferns and flowering plants

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state the structural features of viruses.

To see the full list of learning objectives, go to the Checklist (/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-

fe2023/book/characteristics-classification-of-living-organisms/features-of-organisms/checklist/).

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Section questions
- Hide 3 questions

Question 1
Short text

True or false?
 All living organisms are made up of cells.

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Correct answers
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True
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Answer explanation
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The cell is the basic unit of life. Some organisms are made of one cell (unicellular). Others are made of many cells
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(multicellular).
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1.3.5 () Question 2
Multiple choice
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Which statement is true of animals?
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Choices
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Correct choice #1

Animals get their food by eating other animals or plants.

Answer explanation

Animals do not make their food like plants do. They eat plants or other animals.

#2
Animals make their own food.

#3
Animals use carbon dioxide and water to carry out photosynthesis.
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Animals get nutrition in the same way as plants and bacteria.
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1.3.0 () Question 3
Fill in the blanks
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Complete the following sentence.
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1.3.3 () The broadest classification for organisms is 1 kingdom .

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1.3.5 () Accepted answers and explanation

1.3.6 () #1 kingdom
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In the system for classifying organisms, the broadest (least specific) level is kingdom.
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Section 1.3.1

Animals and plants

What are the differences between plants and animals? Both are living organisms and so they have some similarities. In
which ways are they similar? Take a look at the following activity. 
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Drag and drop the labels to identify some similarities and differences between plants and animals.
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Do not move their Move from place
Reproduce Breathe body from one Make food
to place
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Excrete Respiration Grow Need water Produce seeds

G
Have roots, stems Some have eyes,
Ingest food Movement
and leaves ears, mouth

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1.3.0 () Animals and plants differ in the way they carry out the characteristics of living organisms we saw in subtopic 1.1
(/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/characteristics-classification-of-living-
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organisms/characteristics-of-living-organisms/the-big-picture/).
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1.3.3 () Biologists have classified and divided all living things into groups called kingdoms. These top-level groups are based
1.3.4 () on the similarities and differences between living things.

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American biologist Robert Whittaker proposed a five kingdom system in 1969. It is important to note that this
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classification is approved by most biologists, but not all. Other, different kingdoms have been proposed as technology
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Extended 

The kingdoms
Figure 1 shows how living organisms can be classified into five kingdoms. Prokaryotes are cells without a
nucleus. Bacteria are prokaryotes and all exist as single cells. The organisms in the other four kingdoms
have cells with a nucleus. Some of these organisms in these four kingdoms exist as single cells, while others
exist as many cells (they are multicellular).
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Figure 1. The five kingdoms.
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1.3.6 () Key features of animals and plants

1.3.7 () It is easy to distinguish between plants and animals, and to place an organism in one of these two kingdoms. Table 1
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Table 1. Typical features of animals and plants.

Feature Animals Plants

organisation multicellular multicellular

cell structure no cell walls or chloroplasts have cell walls and chloroplasts

movement usually can move their whole body from place to usually cannot move their whole body from place to
place place
 Feature Animals Plants
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nutrition ingest food
make their own food by photosynthesis

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(they are heterotrophic) (they are autotrophic)
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Note that you cannot classify an organism as an animal or a plant by looking to see if it is multicellular. However, you
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cell structure (see section 2.1.2 (/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/organisation-of-the-
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organism/cell-structure/other-cell-structures/))
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movement
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Animals must ingest (take in) food, but plants can make their own food by photosynthesis (see topic 6.1
(/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/plant-nutrition/photosynthesis/the-big-picture/)).

 Activity
1. Click on the white arrows in the slide show below to see all six pictures. Identify the organism or cell shown in
each picture as either plant or animal.

2. Observe the characteristics of living organisms or features of cells that are evident from each picture and
write them down.

3. Draw a table of comparison between plants and animals using the characteristics and features identified from
the pictures.
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Table 2. Comparison between plants and animals

Plant Animal

plant growing leopard running

characteristic: growth/ sensitivity/movement characteristic: movement

 Plant Animal
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plant absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide zebra grazing
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characteristic: nutrition characteristic: nutrition

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plant cell animal cell
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evidence: presence of cell wall evidence: no cell wall

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presence of chloroplasts no chloroplasts

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Section questions
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Question 1
Short text

State whether an animal or a plant has cells without cell walls.

Correct answers

animal
animals
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The cells in plants have cell walls, but the cells in animals do not.
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Short text
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Is the following statement true or false?
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1.3.3 () Animals and plants are prokaryotes.

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False
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1.3.7 () Answer explanation

Bacteria are prokaryotes, but plants and animals (and fungi and protoctists) have cells with a nucleus.
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Question 3
Short text

True or false?

Animals are capable of moving about from one place to another, whereas plants cannot move about on their own.

Correct answers

True
T
Answer explanation

Plants can only show growth movements but cannot move from place to place like animals.
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1.3.1 () Section 1.3.2

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Animal kingdom: Vertebrates
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The animal kingdom comprises many groups. These include vertebrates, arthropods, cnidarians, annelids, molluscs and
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many more which you will explore in this subtopic.
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1.3.6 () Animals with a backbone are classed as vertebrates. There are fewer species when compared with those without a
1.3.7 () backbone (invertebrates). Vertebrates are shown in green in Figure 1.

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Figure 1. Proportion of vertebrates to other groups of animals.

You are also a vertebrate because you are a Homo sapiens and have a backbone.

 Study skills
Do not confuse backbone with spinal cord. The ‘backbone’ is also known as the vertebral column or spinal column,
and it is made up of bones. The ‘spinal cord’ is made up of nerves and is enclosed by the backbone.
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Figure 2. The fossilised skeleton of the dinosaur Diplodocus carnegii, showing an extreme example of the backbone that
characterises the vertebrates. 

Source: "Dinosaurs in Their Time: Jurassic Era Room (https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveynin/2705542612/)" by daveynin

(https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveynin/) is licensed under CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

 Activity
Test your knowledge of vertebrates. Do the animals in the images belong to the vertebrates group or not?
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Vertebrates have an internal skeleton. The skeleton includes a backbone. The five main groups of vertebrate are:

fish
amphibians
reptiles
birds
mammals.

These five groups differ in terms of their body cover (for instance fur, feathers, scales, smooth skin), their method of
reproduction, their body temperature, their number of limbs and their breathing method.
 Some animals are commonly referred to as cold-blooded because their temperature varies with that of their
environment. On the other hand, other animals have a constant body temperature and are commonly referred to as
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warm-blooded.
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1.3.1 () Now examine the main features of the five main groups of vertebrates.
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1.3.3 () Features of fish

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The common features for fish (Figure 3) are:
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1.3.6 () Fish are cold-blooded aquatic animals.

Almost all fish breathe with gills. The gills of most fish are covered and protected by a bony flap called operculum.
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The body is covered with scales.
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Fins help fish to swim in water, while the streamlined shape minimises resistance and helps them move easily
through water.
Eggs are laid in water and fertilisation is external (outside the body).
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Figure 3. Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

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Credit: EasyBuy4u, Getty Images
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Features of amphibians
The common features for some amphibians (Figure 4) are:

Amphibians are cold-blooded animals. Frogs, toads, and newts are common examples of amphibians.
They have a slimy, moist skin with no scales.
Eggs are laid in water and fertilisation is external (outside the body).
The adults mostly live on land but go back to water to lay their eggs.
The eggs hatch into fish-like larvae (or tadpoles) that live in water. The tadpoles, in the course of time,
metamorphose into the adults.
 Adult amphibians have lungs, while the larva breathe using gills. The moist skin of amphibians also helps in
breathing.
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Figure 4. Green frog (Rana clamitans).

Credit: ithinksky, Getty Images

Features of reptiles
The common features for some reptiles (Figure 5) are:

Snakes, crocodiles, alligators, lizards, turtles and tortoises are common examples of reptiles.
Like fish and amphibians, reptiles are cold-blooded animals. When the environmental temperatures are low, they
are often seen basking in the sun to warm themselves.
 Their body is covered with scales or plates that prevent the loss of water.
Reptiles breathe with their lungs.
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Most reptiles (except snakes, which have no legs), have four limbs or legs. Each limb has five toes with claws.
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Fertilisation is internal. Eggs have leathery shells, which prevent the eggs from drying out. This gives reptiles a big
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      Credit: vusta, Getty Images                      Source: marlin harms (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bipes_biporus.jpg), CC BY 2.0

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Figure 5. Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) and Mexican mole lizard (Bipes biporus).

Features of birds
The common features for birds (Figure 6) are:
 Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates that are (in most cases) adapted for flight.
They breathe with lungs.
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Their body is covered with feathers, a feature unique to birds. The feathers are of different types, like quill
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feathers, contour feathers and down feathers.
1.3.1 () Birds have a streamlined shape to reduce resistance while flying.
1.3.2 () In birds, the forelimbs are modified to wings. The hindlimbs (or feet) are scaly and have claws modified for
different functions, such as capturing prey or perching.
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Birds feed with their beaks. The beaks are modified according to the food eaten.
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Like reptiles, fertilisation is internal. The eggs have hard shells.
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Figure 6. Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis).

Credit: Daniel Parent, Getty Images

 Features of mammals
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The common features for mammals, such as the impala shown in Figure 7, are:
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1.3.1 () Mammals are warm-blooded animals that breathe using lungs.

Mammals are seen on land and in water. Aquatic mammals include dolphins, whales and porpoises.
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Their body is covered with fur or hair.
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A unique feature of mammals is the presence of the external ear or pinna.
1.3.4 () Almost all mammals give birth to live young ones.
1.3.5 () Mammals feed their young with milk produced by the mammary glands.

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Figure 7. Male impala (Aepyceros melampus). 

Credit: WLDavies, Getty Images

The differences in features between the vertebrates are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1. The five main groups of vertebrates and their characteristics.

Fish Amphibian Reptile Bird Mammal

Body cover scales moist smooth skin dry scales feathers and fur, hair or wool
scales on the legs
 Fish Amphibian Reptile Bird Mammal
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Body cold- cold-blooded  cold-blooded  warm-blooded warm-blooded
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temperature blooded 
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Reproduction lay eggs in lay eggs in water lay eggs on lay eggs on land; give birth to live young
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water land; eggs eggs have a hard
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leathery shell
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1.3.5 () Breathing gills gills when young; lungs lungs lungs

organ lungs and moist
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skin in adults
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Special fins and metamorphosis four legs, two two feathered mammary glands for
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features caudal fin from a fish-like legs or no wings, beak and feeding,  pinnae (the
for tadpole to a four- legs at all one pair of scaly visible part of the ear
swimming limbed adult legs present)

Examples shark, frog, toad, cobra, green penguin, human, bat, dolphin, cat,
goldfish, salamander, newt  turtle, hummingbird, dog
African common bald eagle,
catfish, house gecko  chicken
three-spined
stickleback 

 Study skills
 You need to be able to describe the above features and compare the features of any two groups of vertebrates.

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1.3.1 ()  Activity
1.3.2 () Drag and drop the characteristics of each group of vertebrates.

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G
Wet smooth
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scales

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Skin/lungs when
Fur or hair Feathers Dry scales Fins
adults

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G
Four, two or no
No legs Lungs Lungs Gills
legs

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 Section questions
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Question 1
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Fill in the blanks

1.3.1 () A common feature in all vertebrates is that they have a  1 backbone .

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1.3.3 () Accepted answers and explanation

1.3.4 () #1 backbone
1.3.5 () Vertebral column
spinal column
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spine
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1.3.8 () Vertebrates have a skeleton made of bones. The backbone is part of the skeleton and consists of small bones joined end to end.

Question 2
Multiple choice

What feature of an animal can help to classify it as a bird?

Choices

Correct choice #1

Feathers

Answer explanation

Feathers are a unique feature of birds. Mammals are also warm-blooded and many types of animal have legs.
Wings are present in insects.
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Wings
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Legs
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Warm-blooded
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Question 3
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True or false?
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All reptiles breathe through lungs.
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Correct answers

True
T
Answer explanation

Reptiles, birds, mammals and adult amphibians use lungs for breathing.

Question 4
Fill in the blanks

Fish  1 lay eggs in water. They permanently live in water and use  2 gills to get oxygen from the water.

Accepted answers and explanation

 #1 lay

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Fish are the only group of vertebrates that cannot survive out of the water. Gills can extract oxygen from water. Fish, amphibians and reptiles reproduce
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Question 5
1.3.3 () Multiple choice

Two groups of vertebrates whose bodies are covered with scales only are:
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1.3.5 () Choices

Correct choice #1
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Fish and reptiles
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Answer explanation
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Fish have moist scales because they live in water and reptiles have dry scales.

#2
Reptiles and amphibians

#3
Birds and fish

#4
Fish and mammals
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Section 1.3.3
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Animal kingdom: Arthropods
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Animals without backbones, often called ‘invertebrates’, make up most of the animal species on Earth.
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1.3.4 () The following video shows four of the main groups of a type of invertebrate called ‘Arthropods’.

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1.3.6 () Arthropods

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Arthropods
 Arthropods are invertebrates. They have jointed legs, a hard skeleton outside their bodies (called an exoskeleton) and
segmented bodies. The body segments in most arthropods are grouped into body parts known as head, thorax and 
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abdomen. The main groups of arthropod are:
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1.3.1 () insects
1.3.2 () arachnids
crustaceans
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myriapods.
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1.3.5 () These four groups differ in terms of the number of jointed legs, the number of body segments and the presence or
1.3.6 () absence of antennae (see Table 1).

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Table 1. The four groups of arthropod and their characteristics.
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Insects Arachnids Crustaceans Myriapods

Number six (three eight (four pairs) ten (five pairs) or many (one or two pairs
of legs pairs) more per body segment)

Number three (head, two (cephalothorax, which is the head two many (no distinct thorax
of body thorax, and thorax fused, and the abdomen) (cephalothorax and abdomen regions)
parts abdomen) and abdomen)

Antenna one pair none two pairs one pair

 Insects Arachnids Crustaceans Myriapods
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Wings one or two none none none
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pairs
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Examples beetle spider shrimp millipedes and

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centipedes
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Now examine the main features of the four main groups of arthropod.
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Features of insects
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Insects are the largest group of arthropods (Figure 1). Most have two pairs of wings. Some like house flies and
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mosquitoes have one pair. They have a pair of large compound eyes. Their bodies are covered by a hard cuticle that
prevents them from drying out. They can survive in very hot and dry climates.
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Figure 1. Green grasshopper (Omocestus viridulus). 

1.3.8 () Credit: Ziva_K, Getty Images

Features of arachnids
Arachnids have two body parts, no wings and no antennae. They have short chelicerae that are used for piercing prey.
Pedipalps are used for reproduction by males. They have no compound eyes but have multiple pairs of simple eyes
(Figure 2). 
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Figure 2. Wolf spider (Lycosa sp.). 

Credit: Pablo Dolsan, Getty Images

Features of crustaceans
Crustaceans differ from other groups of arthropods in that they have two pairs of antennae that are sensitive to touch
and chemicals. Like insects, they have a pair of compound eyes. The legs on the head are modified into mouthparts for
feeding. Their exoskeleton is harder than that of other arthropods and it forms a carapace (hard shell) (Figure 3).
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1.3.7 () Figure 3. Black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon).

1.3.8 () Credit: joxxxxjo, Getty Images

Features of myriapods
The body of a myriapod is not divided into an obvious thorax and abdomen, but the head is distinct. Myriapods have a
pair of antennae, like insects, and simple eyes (Figure 4).
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Figure 4. Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes).

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Source: Yasunori Koide (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scolopendra_subspinipes_mutilans_DSC_1438.jpg), CC BY-SA 3.0

(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

 Activity
Using your knowledge about their features, match these arthropod images with the correct group.
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Myriapod Insect Crustacean Arachnid Crustacean Myriapod
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 Check

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 Study skills
 It is important that you are able to state similarities and differences between any two groups of arthropods.

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Section questions
1.3.2 ()
- Hide 3 questions

1.3.3 () Question 1
Multiple choice
1.3.4 ()
Which of the following features does an insect have?
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1.3.6 () Choices

Correct choice #1
1.3.7 ()
Three body segments, three pairs of legs and up to two pairs of wings.
1.3.8 ()

Answer explanation

Wings, three pairs of legs and three body parts are the common features of insects. Arachnids have four pairs of
legs, no antennae and two body parts. Crustaceans have two pairs of antennae (with five to ten pairs of legs and
many body segments).

#2
Three body segments, four pairs of legs and one pair of antennae.

#3
Two body segments, no antennae and four pairs of legs.
 #4
Three body segments, three pairs of legs and two pairs of antennae.
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1.3.0 () Question 2
Short text
1.3.1 ()
An organism has three pairs of legs and three body segments. State how many antennae it will have.
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Correct answers
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Two
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2
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1 pair
1.3.6 () one pair
1.3.7 () Answer explanation

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The organism is an insect because these animals have three pairs of legs. They also have one pair of antennae, two
antennae in total.

Question 3
Multiple choice

A characteristic of the bodies of all arthropods is that they are…

Choices

Correct choice #1

segmented

Answer explanation

Arthropods’ bodies are divided into segments. This is one of the characteristics used to identify arthropods.
 #2
hard
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supported by a spine
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flat
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Section 1.3.4

1.3.8 ()
Plant kingdom (E)
Extended 

All life on Earth depends on plants. Can you think of some ways in which you depend on plants?

It is estimated that there are over 450 000 plant species on Earth. They vary in structure and size.

Plants are capable of making their own food through photosynthesis (see subtopic 6.1
(/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/plant-nutrition/photosynthesis/the-big-picture/)).

The plant kingdom is divided into three groups:

 ​algae – these include red, green and brown algae. They are small filamentous (thread-like) plants that
grow in water (for example, seaweed).
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bryophytes – these are small plants that have no ​vascular tissue for transport.
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vascular plants – well-developed plants that have vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transport. They
1.3.1 ()
include ferns and flowering plants.
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1.3.3 () You are going to learn about two groups of vascular plants in more detail: ferns and flowering plants. The
algae and bryophyte groups are beyond the requirements of the syllabus.
1.3.4 ()

1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 ()
Ferns
Ferns are more developed than bryophytes. They have roots, a stem and complex leaves called fronds. The
1.3.7 ()
leaves produce spores. These are reproductive structures (called sporangia) found on the lower surface of the
1.3.8 ()
leaves (Figure 1). The spores are light and are dispersed by wind. They germinate to grow into new fern
plants.
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1.3.7 () Figure 1. Clusters of sporangia on the lower surface of a fern leaf.

Credit: Ed Reschke, Getty Images

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The stem of a fern plant is below the ground and grows horizontally (Figure 2). It is called a rhizome and the
roots growing from it are called adventitious roots.
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Figure 2. Structure of a fern.

Flowering plants
Flowering plants get their name from the fact that their seeds are formed in flowers. The seeds are enclosed
and protected by fruits.
 An embryonic (undeveloped) leaf in the seed of a flowering plant is called the cotyledon. Flowering plants are
divided into two groups, depending on how many cotyledons they have (Figure 3):
1.3 ()

1.3.0 () monocotyledons (often just called ‘monocots’) have one cotyledon

1.3.1 () dicotyledons (often just called ‘dicots’) have two cotyledons.
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Figure 3. Cotyledons on monocotyledons and dicotyledons.

Table 1 lists the differences between these two groups .​

Table 1. The differences between monocots and dicots.

Structure Monocotyledons Dicotyledons

Seed

one cotyledon two cotyledons

 Structure Monocotyledons Dicotyledons
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Leaf veins

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parallel veins
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network of veins
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Leaf shape narrow and long broad and short

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1.3.5 () Vascular bundles

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scattered in the stem arranged in a ring in the stem
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1.3.8 () Roots

fibrous roots tap root

Flower parts

multiple of three multiple of four or five

 Activity 

Test your understanding of the features of plants with the following activity.
1.3 ()
Answer these questions to test your understanding of the features of
plants
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1/5
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Monocot or dicot?
Your answer Check


  Reuse Rights of use
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1.3.2 ()  Study skills 

1.3.3 () Ferns and flowering plants (both monocotyledons and dicotyledons) are sometimes called vascular
plants. This is because they have vascular bundles that contain xylem and phloem for transport of
1.3.4 () substances and water within the plant.
1.3.5 ()

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  
1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 () Section questions

- Hide 3 questions

Question 1
Multiple choice

Extended

Which of the following are characteristics of monocotyledons?

Choices

Correct choice #1

Parallel veins in the leaves

Answer explanation
 Flower parts in multiples of four, tap roots and two cotyledons in seeds are characteristics of dicotyledons.

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#2
1.3.0 () Flower parts in multiples of four

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#3
1.3.2 () Tap roots

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#4
1.3.4 () Two cotyledons in the seeds

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1.3.6 () Question 2
Short text
1.3.7 ()
Extended
1.3.8 ()
The flowers on a plant have six petals each. To which group d​ oes the plant belong?

Correct answers

monocotyledon
monocots

See all


Answer explanation

Monocotyledons have petals in multiples of three. Dicotyledons have petals in multiples of four or five.

Question 3
Short text
 Extended
1.3 ()
The vascular bundles in the stem of a plant are arranged in a ring. State whether this plant will have a tap root
1.3.0 () (yes or no).
1.3.1 ()
Correct answers
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Yes
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Y
1.3.4 () Answer explanation

1.3.5 () The plant is a dicot because the vascular bundles are arranged in a ring, rather than scattered through the stem. This type
of plant has a tap root, unlike the fibrous roots of a monocot.
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Section 1.3.5

Five kingdom classification and viruses (E)

Extended 

Historically, biologists recognised the kingdom as the largest group of organisms and a two kingdom
classification was suggested: plants and animals. However, problems occurred when trying to place bacteria
and fungi into one of these two kingdoms as you will see below. The five kingdom classification is now
 preferred. Most organisms fit into the five kingdom classification, as introduced in section 1.3.1
(/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/characteristics-classification-of-living-
1.3 ()
organisms/features-of-organisms/animals-and-plants/)(Figure 1), except for viruses.
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Figure 1. The five kingdoms.
1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 () Organisms can be:

unicellular (consist of just one cell)

multicellular (consist of many cells).

Some unicellular organisms form colonies where they group together. The following video shows colonies of
Volvox cells, organised into balls of cells.
 Volvox - daughter cells inside of mother colony
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Living organisms obtain their nutrition in three main ways:
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heterotrophs ingest food from other organisms

autotrophs make their own food by photosynthesis

saprotrophs digest food outside their bodies and absorb the substances formed.

Fungi
Most fungi are made of hyphae rather than cells. These are threadlike structures that spread out as the fungus
grows (Figure 2).
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Figure 2. Fungus structure.
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1.3.6 () Some fungi, for example mushrooms, grow on tree trunks or dead wood. They secrete digestive enzymes at the
tips of the hyphae. The digested food is then absorbed back to the fungus.
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1.3.8 () Yeast is a single-celled fungus (Figure 3).

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Figure 3. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

1.3.6 ()
Photo credit: Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library , Getty Images
1.3.7 ()

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Protoctists
Most protoctists are unicellular, but some are multicellular (made up of many cells). Some, for example
amoeba, are heterotrophs. Others are autotrophs, for example algae. They have chloroplasts for photosynthesis.

All protoctists have a nucleus in their cells. 

Other examples are paramecium and plasmodium. 

Prokaryotes
 Prokaryotes are unicellular. They have no nucleus and have a cell wall which is not made of cellulose. Most
are heterotrophs.
1.3 ()

1.3.0 () They include bacteria and blue green algae. Some bacteria have a capsule outside the cell wall. Bacteria vary in
1.3.1 () shape, including rod-shaped, spiral or spherical. Some have long projections from the cell surface known as
flagella (singular: flagellum). They use these to move about.
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1.3.3 () Figure 4 gives more details about the five kingdoms.

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1.3.7 ()  
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Figure 4. Features of the five kingdoms.

Table 1 summarises the differences between organisms in the five kingdoms in terms of the number of cells
and the type of nutrition.
 Table 1. Features of the five kingdoms in terms of organisation and nutrition.

1.3 () Organisation Nutrition

1.3.0 ()
Kingdom Unicellular Multicellular Heterotrophs Autotrophs Saprotrophs
1.3.1 ()

1.3.2 () Prokaryote √ √ √

1.3.3 ()
Protoctist √ √ √
1.3.4 () (most)

1.3.5 ()
Animal √ √
1.3.6 ()

1.3.7 ()
Plant √ √

1.3.8 ()
Fungus √ √ √ √

Note that different organisms in the same kingdom may be unicellular or multicellular, or may have different
ways to obtain their nutrition. For example, yeast are unicellular fungi but mushrooms are multicellular fungi.

Exercise questions
+ Show 1 question

Extended 
 Examples of organisms from each kingdom are listed in Table 2.

1.3 ()
Table 2. Examples of organisms from each of the five kingdoms.
1.3.0 ()
Kingdom Example(s)
1.3.1 ()

Prokaryote bacteria
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Protoctist some algae (autotrophs)
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Amoeba, Paramecium, Plasmodium (heterotrophs)
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1.3.6 ()
Animal mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
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Plant flowering plants, mosses, ferns, conifers
1.3.8 ()

Fungus yeast (unicellular)

moulds and mushrooms (multicellular)

The slide show below gives examples of organisms from each of the five kingdoms.
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Figure 5. Examples of animals, plants, fungus, prokaryotes (bacteria) and protoctists.

 Activity 

Match the organism with its correct description.

 Drag the words into the correct boxes
1.3 ()
This unicellular organism reproduces very rapidly (once every 20 minutes). It often lives inside the
1.3.0 ()
bodies of other organisms feeding off them.

1.3.1 ()

This organism is unicellular and is often found in ponds where it moves around the water using its
1.3.2 ()
flagellum (tail) to propel it. If sunlight is available it makes its own food.

1.3.3 ()

1.3.4 () This organism spends the day absorbing nutrients from a rotten log. It is multicellular.

1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 () This organism takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen through its stomata during the day. It
doesn’t eat but can grow several metres tall.

1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 () This organism spends its day roaming through the forest hunting. Its keen sense of smell and
hearing help in this.

Fungus Plant Animal Protoctist Bacteria

0/5

 Show solution  Retry

 Reuse
1.3 ()

1.3.0 ()
Viruses
Did you know that viruses can be crystallised? Yes. Viruses can be changed into crystals! This means that they
1.3.1 ()
are not living organisms. But they are active, and can multiply once inside the body of a living organism.
1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 ()
Viruses:

1.3.4 () are not made of cells

1.3.5 () do not have a cell membrane or cytoplasm
1.3.6 () do not show any of the seven characteristics of living organisms.
1.3.7 ()
Viruses consist of a protein coat surrounding genetic material   (Figures 6 and 7). To reproduce, they insert
1.3.8 ()
their genetic material into a living cell (the host cell), and use the material of the host cell to make new viruses.
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Figure 6. The structure of a bacteriophage virus (a type of virus that infects bacteria).
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1.3.8 () Figure 7. A coronavirus.

Credit: Radoslav Zilinsky, Getty Images

  

Section questions
- Hide 4 questions

Question 1
Multiple choice

Extended
 A new organism has been discovered. It is unicellular, has a nucleus and an autotroph. In which kingdom does
this organism belong?
1.3 ()

1.3.0 ()
Choices

1.3.1 () Correct choice #1

Protoctist
1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 () Answer explanation

1.3.4 ()
The protoctist kingdom includes all unicellular autotrophs (algae) with a nucleus and unicellular heterotrophs that
ingest food (protozoa).
1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 ()
#2
Prokaryote
1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 ()
#3
Fungus

#4
Plant

Question 2
Short text

Extended

Which two of the five kingdoms can include unicellular and multicellular organisms? (Give your answer as
two words separated by a comma)
 Correct answers

fungi, protoctists
1.3 ()
fungi and protoctists
1.3.0 () fungi protoctists
1.3.1 () protoctists, fungi

1.3.2 ()
protoctists and fungi
protoctists fungi
1.3.3 ()
Answer explanation
1.3.4 ()
Fungi and protoctists are the only kingdoms that include unicellular and multicellular organisms.
1.3.5 ()
Question 3
1.3.6 ()
Short text

1.3.7 ()
Extended
1.3.8 ()
An organism is a unicellular saprotroph. State to which kingdom it is most likely to belong.

Correct answers

fungus
fungi
Answer explanation

Fungi digest food outside their bodies and absorb the substances formed. They can be unicellular, for example yeast, or
multicellular, for example mushrooms and toadstools.

Question 4
Multiple choice
 Extended
1.3 ()
Which feature do viruses share with living organisms?
1.3.0 ()

Choices
1.3.1 ()
Correct choice #1
1.3.2 ()
Genetic material
1.3.3 ()
Answer explanation
1.3.4 ()
Viruses carry genetic material within a protein coat. They are not made up of cells.
1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 () #2
Growth
1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 () #3
Movement

#4
Being made up of cells

Section 1.3.6

Practical: Classifying organisms

 Using what you have learned in this subtopic so far, carry out the following activity.
1.3 ()

1.3.0 () Aim
1.3.1 () To classify groups of plants and animals based on their characteristics.
1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 ()
Safety
1.3.4 ()
A full risk assessment must be carried out before starting this practical activity (see subtopic 0.0.1
1.3.5 () (/schoolstaff/app/cambridge-igcse-biology-fe2023/book/introduction/introduction/introduction-and-key-features/) for
1.3.6 () more information).

1.3.7 ()
There are no specific safety concerns associated with this activity.
1.3.8 ()

Setting up your experiment

You will need the following materials:

pictures or preserved specimens of the following organisms: rat, frog, crab, fish, species of bird, insect and spider
(choose species that are familiar to where you live)
if you are taking the extended course, pictures or preserved specimens of a fern (silver fern or any other example),
ginger and bean plant with flowers clearly seen. Identify them as either flowering plants or ferns
hand lens (if using preserved specimens).
 Running your experiment
1.3 ()
1. Observe the specimen of the organism provided (picture or preserved specimen).
1.3.0 () 2. List the features that you can see for the organism.
1.3.1 () 3. Write the name of the kingdom and the group for the organism.
4. Record your data in a table similar to the one below (but replace the names of the organisms where relevant for the
1.3.2 ()
samples you have been provided).
1.3.3 ()

1.3.4 ()
Name of
1.3.5 () organism Observable features Kingdom Group

1.3.6 ()
Rat
1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 () Frog

Crab

Fish

Bird

Insect

Spider
 
Extended
1.3 ()
Name of
1.3.0 ()
organism Observable features Kingdom Group
1.3.1 ()
Fern
1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 () Ginger

1.3.4 ()
Bean plant
1.3.5 () with
flowers
1.3.6 ()

1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 ()

Analysing your results

Compare your results table with the sample answer given below.

Name of
organism Observable features Kingdom Group

Rat 1. Fur
Animal Mammal
2. External ear
 Name of
1.3 () organism Observable features Kingdom Group

1.3.0 ()
Frog 1. No scales
Animal Amphibian
1.3.1 () 2. Four legs

3. Moist skin
1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 () Crab 1. Two pairs of antennae

Animal Crustacean
2. Five pairs of legs
1.3.4 ()

1.3.5 () Trout 1. Fins

Animal Fish
2. Gills
1.3.6 ()

1.3.7 () Crow 1. Feathers

Animal Bird
2. Beak
1.3.8 ()

Housefly 1. Has six legs

Animal Insect
2. Has wings

3. Has a pair of antennae

Spider 1. Has eight legs

Animal Arachnid
2. No antennae

Extended 
 Name of
1.3 () organism Observable features Kingdom Group

1.3.0 ()
Fern 1. Leaves and stem
Plant Ferns
1.3.1 () 2. Green (for photosynthesis)

3. Leaves with network veins

1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 () Ginger 1. Part of a rhizome

Plant Flowering plant  (monocotyledon)
2. Has stem

1.3.4 () 3. Leaves with parallel veins

1.3.5 ()
Bean plant 1. Has flowers
Plant Flowering plant  (dicotyledon)
1.3.6 ()
with 2. Has roots

1.3.7 ()
flowers 3. Leaves with network veins

1.3.8 ()

Conclusion
Organisms can be classified (kingdom and group) using observable features. When carrying out a practical activity on
classification, the best method to use first is to look for the physical features. After this, you can examine for the
physiological characteristics, such as temperature regulation.

 Activity
 Discuss in your group how you would design an experiment to determine if live specimens of different organisms
are warm- or cold-blooded.
1.3 ()

1.3.0 ()

  
1.3.1 ()

1.3.2 () Section questions

1.3.3 () - Hide 3 questions

1.3.4 ()
Question 1
Multiple choice
1.3.5 ()
What is an observable difference between a rat and a goldfish?
1.3.6 ()
Choices
1.3.7 ()
Correct choice #1
1.3.8 () A rat has fur and goldfish has scales.

Answer explanation

A rat is a mammal and hence its body is covered with fur, while a goldfish is a fish and the body covering is scales.

#2
A rat has four legs and a goldfish has no fins.

#3
A rat has an external ear like that of goldfish.

#4
None of the above.
 Question 2
1.3 () Fill in the blanks

A housefly belongs to the group  1 insects because it has six legs and a pair of antennae.
1.3.0 ()

1.3.1 ()
Accepted answers and explanation
1.3.2 ()
#1 insects
1.3.3 ()
insect
1.3.4 ()

Characteristics of insects that differentiate them from other arthropods are six legs, a pair of antennae and three body parts – head, thorax and abdomen.
1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 () Question 3
Multiple choice
1.3.7 ()
Extended
1.3.8 ()
A bean plant is a dicot because…

Choices

Correct choice #1

it has leaves with network veins.

Answer explanation

One characteristic of dicotyledon plants, to which a bean plant belongs, is network veins on the leaves.

#2
it has long and narrow leaves.
 #3
it has fibrous roots.
1.3 ()

1.3.0 () #4
it is a flowering plant.
1.3.1 ()

1.3.2 ()

1.3.3 ()

1.3.4 ()

1.3.5 () Section 1.3.7

1.3.6 ()
Summary and key terms
1.3.7 ()

All living organisms have some features in common. 

1.3.8 ()
The largest group of organisms is the kingdom.
Vertebrates are divided into five groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals.
Each group has their own distinct features that distinguish it from the rest.
Arthropods are animals that do not have a backbone (invertebrates) with jointed legs, segmented bodies and an
exoskeleton.
They are further grouped into insects, arachnids, crustaceans and myriapods.

Extended 

All living organisms are grouped into five kingdoms: animal, plant, fungus, protoctist and prokaryote.

The main characteristics used to place organisms into one of the five kingdoms are:
 How many cells they are made up of – unicellular or multicellular

1.3 () If they make their own food (autotrophs) or eat other organisms (heterotrophs)

1.3.0 () If they can move on their own.

1.3.1 () Prokaryotes are bacteria. They are unicellular and their cells have no nucleus. They have a cell wall and

1.3.2 ()
genetic material.

1.3.3 ()
Fungi include yeast and mushrooms. They are heterotrophic.

1.3.4 ()
Viruses are not considered as living organisms. They are not made up of cells. They cannot carry out any
of the characteristics of living organisms.
1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 ()

1.3.7 ()  Key terms

1.3.8 ()
 Review these key terms. Do you know them all? Fill in as many gaps as you can using the terms in
1.3 () this list.

1.3.0 ()
1. Plants and animals show some and differences in the way they carry out the
1.3.1 () characteristics of living organisms.

1.3.2 () 2. Plants make their but animals other organisms for

nutrition.

1.3.3 ()
3. are animals that have a backbone, which is also known as vertebral column or
1.3.4 () column.

4. Vertebrates are divided into five groups: fish, , reptiles, birds and mammals.

1.3.5 ()
5. The groups of vertebrates differ in the body covering, breathing organs, method of ,
1.3.6 () types/number of and how they regulate their .

6. All arthropods have an .

1.3.7 ()
7. Arthropods are divided into four groups: myriapods, , arachnids and insects.

1.3.8 () 8. Insects are the only group of arthropods that have .

9. [Extended] Plants are divided into two groups: plants that have vascular bundles
(xylem and phloem) and plants.

10. [Extended] Vascular plants contain two further groups: that reproduce by means
of spores and that reproduce by means of flowers and seeds.

11. [Extended] Two groups of flowering plants are: , whose seeds have one
cotyledon, and , whose seeds have two cotyledons.

12. [Extended] are unicellular organisms that do not have a proper nucleus.

13. [Extended] are unicellular organisms that have a nucleus.

14. [Extended] reproduce by spores and some of them are saprotrophs.

15. [Extended] do not possess the characteristics of a living organism.

body temperature Prokaryotes Fungi amphibians ferns ingest non-vascular

exoskeleton Viruses food dicotyledons Vertebrates monocotyledons similarities

 flowering plants reproduction crustaceans limbs vascular wings Protoctists

1.3 () spinal

1.3.0 ()

1.3.1 ()

1.3.2 ()  Check

1.3.3 ()
 Reuse
1.3.4 ()

1.3.5 ()

1.3.6 ()

1.3.7 ()

1.3.8 ()
 Section 1.3.8

1.3 () Checklist
1.3.0 ()

1.3.1 ()  What you should know

1.3.2 () After studying this subtopic, you should be able to:

1.3.3 ()
Core
1.3.4 ()
State the main features used to place animals and plants into the appropriate kingdoms.
1.3.5 () State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the animal kingdom, limited to:
the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
1.3.6 ()
the main groups of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans.
1.3.7 ()
Classify organisms using the features identified in the above points.
1.3.8 ()
Extended:

State the main features used to place all organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal, plant, fungus,
prokaryote, protoctist.
State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the plant kingdom, limited to ferns and
flowering plants (dicotyledons and monocotyledons).

Classify organisms using the features identified in the above points.

State the features of viruses, limited to a protein coat and genetic material.
1.3 ()
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