Classification Unit 1 Vocabulary

1. Classification: The process of grouping things together based on their similarities.

2. Abiotic Factor: A nonliving part of an organism's ecosystem.

3. Animal: A kingdom of multi-cellular eukaryotes that reproduce sexually and are consumers (eats food).

4. Archaebacteria: A kingdom of bacteria that live under extreme conditions such as high temperature, high salt content, and low oxygen.

5. Biotic Factor: A living part of an organism's habitat.

6. Eubacteria: A kingdom that contains all prokaryotes, except archaebacteria, and are single celled organisms.

7. Fungi: A kingdom of simple, plantlike organisms that live on dead organic matter, have cell walls, and use spores to reproduce. (Also called decomposers)

8. Consumer: An organism that cannot make its own food (Also called a heterotroph).

9. Plant: A kingdom of chlorophyll containing multicellular producers (autotrophs) that are capable of making food.

10. Producer: An organism that can make its own food 10. Producer: An organism that can make its own food. (Also called an autotroph)

11. Protist: A kingdom of single celled or simple multicellular eukaryotes (cells contain nucleus) that generally do not fit into any other kingdom.

12. Species: A group of organisms that are physically similar, can reproduce with each other, and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce.

13. Eukaryote: An organism whose cells contain a nucleus.

14. Prokaryote: An organism whose cells lack a nucleus and some other cell structures.

15. Unicellular: An organism which is made of a single cell.

16. Multicellular: An organism which consists of many cells.

17. Binomial Nomenclature: The system for naming organisms in which each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name.

18. Chordate: Organisms that have a spinal cord and may or may not have vertebrae (bones around spine).

19. Invertebrate: An animal that does not have a backbone.

20. Vertebrate: An animal that has a backbone.