1. Taxonomy
SC.912.L.15.6 Discuss distinguishing characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of living organisms.
To the Teacher:
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2. What do I need to know?
the distinguishing characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of living organisms. 
how organisms are classified based on evolutionary relationships and explain the reasons for changes in how organisms are classified.
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3. Domains and Kingdoms
The 3 domains (archaea, bacteria, & eukarya) and the 6 kingdoms (archaebacteria, eubacteria, protista, fungi, plantae & animalia) are separated from one another by characteristics such as cell type, number of cells, mode of nutrition, and cell structures like cell walls and chloroplast.
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4. Domains and Kingdoms To the Teacher: DOMAIN KINGDOM CELL TYPE
CELL STRUCTURES
NUMBER OF CELLS
MODE OF NUTRITION
EXAMPLES
Bacteria
Eubacteria
Prokaryote
Cell walls with peptidoglycan
Unicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Streptococcus, Escherichia coli
Archaea
Archaebacteria
Prokaryote
Cell walls without peptidoglycan
Unicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Methanogens, halophiles
Protista
Eukaryote
Cell walls of cellulose in some; some have chloroplasts
Most unicellular; some colonial; some multicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Amoeba, Paramecium, slime molds, giant kelp
Fungi
Eukaryote
Cell walls of chitin
Most multicellular; some unicellular
Heterotroph
Mushrooms, yeasts
Eukarya
Plantae
Eukaryote
Cell walls of cellulose; chloroplasts
Multicellular
Autotroph
Mosses, ferns, flowering plants
Animalia
Eukaryote
No cell walls or chloroplasts
Multicellular
Heterotroph
Sponges, worms, insects, fishes, mammals
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5. Evolutionary Relationships
Living things are classified according to their evolutionary relationship or how long ago they shared a common ancestor. Evolutionary relationships can be shown using a cladogram. Cladograms can be built using physical characteristics or DNA sequencing.
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6. Show What You Know
Organisms classified as fungi have unique characteristics. Which of the following characteristics is found only in organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi?
A. single cells without a nucleus
B. multicellular with chloroplasts
C. multicellular filaments that absorb nutrients
D. colonies of single, photosynthetic cells that reproduce asexually
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7. Show What You Know
It was recently determined that giant pandas are much closely related to bears, than to raccoons. Before this, many scientists believed that giant pandas were members of the raccoon family. What is the best piece of evidence that was probably used to re-classify giant pandas as a bear and not a racoon?
A. More behavioral similarities to bears than to raccoons
B. More similarities in appearance to bears than to raccoons
C. More similarities in bear DNA and giant panda DNA than in racoons DNA and giant panda DNA
D. A more similar habitat to bears than to raccoons
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8. Show What You Know
Many protists are single-celled organisms, as are all bacteria. However, protists and bacteria are in different biological kingdoms. Which of the following comparisons of protists and bacteria is NOT true?
A. Both protists and bacteria can be motile.
B. Both protists and bacteria are microorganisms.
C. Protists are eukaryotes, while bacteria are prokaryotes.
D. Protists may be photosynthetic, but bacteria cannot be photosynthetic.
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9. Show What You Know
Fungi were once classified as a member of the plant kingdom. Over time scientists recognized a defining characteristic that forced the reclassification of fungi as their own kingdom. What is this defining characteristic?
A. Fungi lacked a cell wall and plants have a cell wall
B. Fungi are heterotrophs and plants are autotrophs
C. Fungi are prokaryotic and plants are eukaryotic
D. Fungi are onlu unicellular and plants are only multicellular
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