The Classification of Living Organisms The Five Kingdoms

The Five Kingdom Classification of Living Organisms It is generally agreed that all organisms belong to one of five Kingdoms. All the members of any one Kingdom may look extremely different from one another but all share certain significant features in common which set them apart from the members of any other Kingdom

Prokaryotae Bacteria and blue-green bacteria (or cyanobacteria) e.g. Spirillum, Staphylococcus Cells are prokaryotic (no nucleus, no organelles) and very small (< 10  m) Autotrophic (chemosynthesis or photosynthesis) and heterotrophic Cells have cell wall made of peptidoglycans/murein

Protoctista e.g. seaweeds Plasmodium (the cause of malaria), Foraminiferans, Paramecium Diatoms Amoeba Spirogyra alga Euglena Trypanosoma (the cause of sleeping sickness)

Eukaryotic; unicellular and multicellular Autotrophic (e.g. seaweeds) and heterotrophic (e.g. Plasmodium) Cells of some have cellulose walls (e.g. seaweeds) whilst cells of other do not (e.g. Plasmodium) Organisms are classed here if they do not fit into any other Kingdom

Fungi Moulds, yeasts, mushrooms

Eukaryotic Heterotrophic Cells have walls made of chitin (a type of glucose-based polymer with attached amino acids, so different to cellulose) Some unicellular (e.g. yeasts) but usually body is a multicellular (but often no separate cells, so more accurately multinucleate)) mass (mycelium) of thread-like filaments (hyphae) Reproduce by forming resistant spores

Plantae Mosses, ferns, flowering plants

Eukaryotic Multicellular Complex body structures; specialised cells, tissues, organs Autotrophic (photosynthesis) Cells have wall made of cellulose Have a complex life cycle with a sexually reproducing adult stage and an asexually reproducing adult stage

Sea anemones, earthworms, insects, snails, fish, humans Animalia

Eukaryotic Multicellular Complex body structures; specialised cells, tissues, organs Heterotrophic; most have a gut (digestive system) Cells lack cell walls Most are motile. Have a nervous system Embryo has a stage at which it is a hollow ball of cells (the blastula)

Five Kingdoms Prokaryotae Protoctista Fungi Plantae Animalia

All necessary information is in Fig 5.15 on page 13. All necessary information is in Fig 5.15 on page 13. Or Fig 5.15 can be accessed and printed from the SNAB website (mediabank) Or Fig 5.15 can be accessed and printed from the SNAB website (mediabank) It’s down to you! It’s down to you!

Taxonomic groups: the 5 Kingdoms

Taxonomic groups: Major phyla and classes of the Animal Kingdom [There are actually 33 phyla!] Phyla Classes

All the animal phyla