Taxonomy

SC.912.L.15.6

Discuss distinguishing characteristics of the domains and kingdoms of living organisms.

Source:http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/levin/0471697435/chap_tut/chaps/chapter06-02.html

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.

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.

Domains and KingdomsDOMAIN

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

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

Eukarya

Evolutionary RelationshipsLiving 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.

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

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

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.

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