1.

CHARACTERISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION

OF LIVING ORGANISMS
z
BIOLOGY

Prof. Laura Gimenez

 Characteristics of living organisms (7)
z

Movement

Nutrition Respiration

Living
organisms
Excretion Sensitivity

Reproduction Growth
 z
Lets think…
Is it a living organism?

Why?

Does it…

Move? Respire?

Feel? Grow?

Reproduce? Excrete?

It is not alive because it does not meet Feed?

the seven characteristics of living
organisms
 z
Lets think…
Is it a living organism?

Why?

Does it…

Move? Respire?

Feel? Grow?

Reproduce? Excrete?
It is not alive because it does not
meet the seven characteristics of Feed?
living organisms
 z Species
What is a specie?
 What is a specie?
z
1) It is a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
2) Species refers to the group of similar individuals that are capable of
interbreeding, and their offspring is fertile.

They share:
- Karyotype (the number and visual
appearance of the chromosomes in the cell
nuclei of an organism or species)
- DNA sequence
- Morphology
- Behaviour or ecological niche.

1. Any characteristic in a species is

because of its genetic material.
2. A single characteristic in species is
determined by the specific gene.
.
 Examples
z
of species that can breed but
thier offspring is almost always not fertile

Male tiger Lioness

Male horse Female

(stallion) + donkey = Mule

Hybrid
offspring
Female horse (mare) + male zebra = Zorse
z
Genus
Genus (singular); Genera (plural)
 z
What is a genus?

1) A genus is a taxonomic classification that includes closely related species.

2) A class, kind, or group marked by common characteristics or by one
common characteristic.

“Closely related species are grouped into a genus”.

…
- Genus: Homo
Binomial
- Specie: H. sapiens Nomenclature
 Also called
z Binomial Nomenclature Binomial System,
invented by Carl
/bʌɪˈnəʊmɪəl/ /nə(ʊ)ˈmɛŋklətʃə/ Linnaeus (1707-
1778)

Binomial Nomenclature
Comes form the Latin term
Bi: Two (2) Nomen: Name “nomenclatura” that refers to
a list of names

“A two-part name, especially the Latin name of

a species of living organism (consisting of the
genus followed by the specific specie).”
Homo sapiens Escherichia coli
Homo erectus Mustela erminea
 z
Binomial System: Definition
It is an international agreed system for naming species in which the scientific name of
an organism is made up of two parts: the GENUS and the SPECIE.
…

Genus: Mustela

Species: M. nivalis (weasel)

M. erminea (stoat)

M. putorius (ferret)

Tiped case: Homo sapiens (writen in italics)

When written by hand: Homo sapiens (underlined)

Capital letter lower case

 1.3 Features of organisms
z

Learning objectives:
1. State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the five
kingdoms.

2. Classify organisms.
 Features of organisms
z

Presence of:
- Cytoplasm & cell membranas
- DNA as genetic material
- Ribosomes (responsable for protein synthesis)
 z Viruses

Composed by:
- Protein + lipid (capsid)
- Cytoplasm + Ribosomes
- DNA or RNA

They lack of:

- Cell membranes

Move? Respire?
Feel? Grow?
Reproduce? Excrete?
Feed?

THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED Even when they reproduce, it only happens
LIVING ORGANISMS inside the cell of living organisms, using
materials provided by the host cell.
 z Taxonomy
It is the science of classifying life according to shared characteristics.
Taxon: Individual levels used to classify organisms.

Domain
Domain (broadest)
Kingdom
Kingdom
Phylum
Phylum
Class
Class Order
Order
Family
Family
Genus
Genus Specie
Specie (specific)

It allows relationships to be clearly

seen.
 Domain

z
The three-domain scheme
- Carl Woese – 1978
- Organisms are grouped using differences in
ribosomal RNA structure

Prokaryotic Ancient Organisms that

organisms which prokariotic have a
do not have a organisms. They membrane-
have an bound nucleus.
nucleus
independant
surrounded by a evolutionary
membrane. history to other
bacteria and their
Under this scheme, organisms are classified into biochemistry is
three domains and six kindoms. very different to
other forms of life
 Domain

z
Kingdom The three-domain scheme
- Carl Woese – 1978
- Organisms are grouped using differences in
ribosomal RNA structure

Under this scheme, organisms are classified into

three domains and six kindoms.
 Domain

z
Kingdom The Whittaker five-kingdom
scheme

- Whittaker – 1969
- Organisms are grouped on the basis of
characteristics such as cell structure, mode
of nutrition, source of nutrition and body
organisation.

This is
This is the
the scheme
scheme we
we are
are going
going to
to use!
use!