1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms

1 Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms
Concept and Uses of Classification Systems
1. State that organisms can be classified into groups by the features that they share.
2. Describe a species as a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
3. Describe the binomial system of naming species as an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species.
4. Construct and use dichotomous keys based on identifiable features.
5. Explain that classification systems aim to reflect evolutionary relationships.
6. Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are used as a means of classification.
7. Explain that groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor (are more closely related) have base sequences in DNA that are more similar than those that share only a distant ancestor.
Features of Organisms
1. State the main features used to place animals and plants into the appropriate kingdoms.
2. State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the animal kingdom, limited to:
▪ The main groups of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish.
▪ The main groups of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans.
3. Classify organisms using the features identified above.
4. State the main features used to place all organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal, plant, fungus, prokaryote, protoctist.
5. State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the plant kingdom, limited to ferns and flowering plants (dicotyledons and monocotyledons).
6. Classify organisms using the features identified in points 4 and 5.
7. State the features of viruses, limited to a protein coat and genetic material.
These highlighted keywords represent important concepts and classifications within biology.

1 Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

Concept and Uses of Classification Systems

Features of Organisms