Classification System

How are organisms classified TODAY? All living things are classified into one of three domains: Bacteria Archaea Eukarya

Bacteria These organisms have 3 basic characteristics: They are unicellular. They are prokaryotic. They live everywhere around us: On the things we touch In the air In our skin

Archaea These organisms have 3 basic characteristics: They are unicellular. They are prokaryotic. They live in Earth’s most extreme environments: Underwater volcanoes Geysers Hot springs

Archaea These environments are too extreme for any other organism on Earth because they’re: Too hot Too acid or alkaline

So, how are bacteria and archaea similar but different? Unicellular Microscopic Prokaryotes Different Structure Chemical makeup Habitat

Eukarya Organisms in this domain have only 1 thing in common: They are eukaryotes

Eukarya Protists Fungi Plants Animals There are 4 types of eukaryotic organisms (also known as kingdoms) Protists Fungi Plants Animals

Fungi These organisms have 3 basic characteristics: They’re heterotrophs Most of them feed from dead organisms They’re multicellular Only few fungi species are unicellular They’re eukaryotes Mushrooms Mold Mildew

Plants These organisms have 3 basic characteristics: They’re autotrophs They produce their own food through photosynthesis They’re multicellular They’re eukaryotes Flowering plants Moss Trees

Animals These organisms have 3 basic characteristics: They’re heterotrophs They’re multicellular They’re eukaryotes They move Sea stars Insects Vertebrates

Protists These organisms have only 2 things in common: They’re heterotrophs They can’t be classified as plants, animals or fungi. Seaweed Amoeba Slime mold

So now you know it! This is what our modern classification system looks like: Kingdoms Domains Living Things Bacteria Archaea Eukarya Protists Fungi Plants Animals