MERRYLAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Department of Biology- Grade 7

Classification of living organisms

Classification is used to group different species. A group of organisms belong to the

same species if they can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
Organisms are classified by evolutionary relationships. These can be found by studying
physical characteristics and DNA. Traditionally, organisms were categorized based on
morphology (external features) and anatomy (internal structures). The structure of
bones and organs were studied through dissections and organisms were grouped based
on similarities.
Importance of classification
1. Similarities and differences in physiology and anatomy of living organisms can tell us
more about their evolutionary relationship.
2. Easy identification of organisms.
3. Makes studies easier about organisms.
Organisms are classified into groups according to characteristics that they share.
Five kingdom classification was proposed by R.H.Whittaker.

The three -domain scheme was introduced by Carl Woese in 1978.Under this system,
organisms are classified into three domains and 6 kingdoms.

The domains are:

1. Archaea( containing prokaryotic organisms that are considered as ancient bacteria that thrive
on extreme environments)

2. Eubacteria(prokaryotic organisms that do not have a nucleus surrounded by a membrane)

3. Eukarya(organisms that have membrane bound nucleus)

LIVING ORGANISMS

Three Archaea Bacteria Eukarya

Domains

Six Archaea
Eubacteria Protoctist Fungi Plantae Animalia
kingdoms bacteria
1. Kingdom Eubacteria

 They are microscopic unicellular organism and has cell wall

 They lacks membrane bound organelles (prokaryotes)

 True nucleus absent

 Most of the cell organelles are absent

 Mode of nutrition: Autotrophs or heterotrophs

 Movement – By flagella

Example: Escherichia Coli, Cyanobacteria, lactobacillus

2. Kingdom Protoctist

 It includes unicellular or multicellular organisms

 It has well defined nucleus(Eukaryotic)

 Mostly live in water

 Mode of nutrition: Autotrophs or heterotrophs

 Movement – By flagella/ cilia

Examples: Amoeba, Euglena

3. Kingdom Fungi

 They are multicellular organisms.

 They have cell wall made up of chitin but they do not have
chlorophyll

 Fungal body is called mycelium

 Mycelium has a branching network of threads called

hyphae rather than cells

Symbiosis: Lichens (association of algae and fungi) are very good example of symbiosis

where algae being autotrophic manufactures the food through photosynthesis and the

fungi absorbs water and minerals from the substratum, as well as fungi provide rigidity to

the algae body.

 Mode of nutrition: Heterotrophic, saprophytic

 Movement – Non motile

Examples: Mushroom, yeast, mold

4. Kingdom Plantae

 They are multicellular organisms

 Contain chloroplast for photosynthesis

[Autotrophs-organisms that prepare food themselves]

 They have cell wall made up of cellulose.

Ferns with spores
 This kingdom includes mosses and ferns which do not

reproduce using seeds but by spores

 Conifers – seeds not enclosed in a fruit . E.g., pinus, spruce

 Mode of nutrition : Autotrophs

conifer
 Movement – Non motile
Examples: All green plants
5. Kingdom Animalia

 They are multicellular organisms

 Mode of nutrition :Heterotrophic

 Movement – Motile
Examples: Vertebrates and invertebrate

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

It is the way scientists use to

categorize and organize all of life.

It can help to distinguish how

similar or different living organisms

are to each other. There are eight

major levels of classification:

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,

Order, Family, Genus, and Species.

BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

It is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name

composed of two parts. The first part of the name identifies the genus to which the
species belong; the second part identifies the species within the genus.

For example, humans belong to the genus Homo and within this genus to the species
sapiens. Hence the binomial name for humans is Homo sapiens

While typing, these names are typed in italics. However we follow the certain rules

while writing them. The rules are:

 The genus name is written first.

 The first letter of the genus name is always capitalized.
 The species name is always the second word.
 The first letter (or any letters) of the species name is never capitalized.
 The genus and the species names are always underlined separately.
 Animal Classification

Animals are classified into two groups.

Invertebrates: Animals without back bone. They have exoskeleton or fluid skeleton.
Vertebrates – Animals with a backbone. They have endoskeleton.

Endoskeleton: The skeleton which is present inside the body.

It provides shape, structure and protection to the animals, also helps in movement

Classes of vertebrates

1. Mammals
 give birth to their young and feed them with milk, from the mammary glands.
 have hair on their body.
 have four limbs with digits
ending in claws, nails, or
hooves (except whales)
 breathe with lungs.
 are warm-blooded.
 have external ears called
pinnae

2. Birds
 lay eggs with a hard shell.
 are covered with feathers.
 have a beak, have two legs.
 have two wings used for flying (ostriches and penguins are flightless).
 have l i g h t a n d hollow bones.
 are warm-blooded( They cannot change their body temperature with the change in
their environment)
 3. Reptiles

 lay eggs with leathery shells or give birth to fully-formed

young.
 breathe with lungs.
 are covered with dry scales.
 are cold-blooded( They change their body
temperature with the change in their surrounding)

4. Amphibians

 lay eggs, usually in a jelly-like mass in water.

 breathe with lungs, gills, or through their moist skin.
 have smooth skin without coverings.
 have four legs without claws or nails on toes.
 are cold-blooded.

5. Fish

 lay eggs without shells in water.

 breathe with gills.
 are covered with moist scales or smooth skin.
 have tail and fins but no legs or toes.
 are cold-blooded.
 Plant classification

Plants that cannot produce flowers are called as non-flowering plants. Nonflowering
plants do not grow flowers, and use either naked seeds or spores, which are very tiny
parts of a plant that can be used to reproduce. They are divided into 3 groups.
i) Mosses- They are commonly found in moist shady locations.

They have-
 No proper roots, stem or leaves
 Root like structures called rhizoids to absorb water
 No vascular tissues
 Reproduce by spores

ii) Ferns-
 Their body is differentiated into stem, root and leaves.
 They have underground stems
 They have vascular tissues (xylem and phloem tissues to
conduct water and food )
 They reproduce by spores.

iii) Conifers – They are tall, woody plants that grow in dry places.
 Large plants with needle like leaves
 Seeds are produced in cones

(naked seeds- not enclosed by a fruit)

 Have vascular tissues

Vascular tissues

The main transport systems of plants are xylem and phloem.

Xylem tissue transports water and dissolved minerals to the leaves.

Phloem tissue conducts food from the leaves to all parts of the plant
Flowering plants grow flowers and use seeds to reproduce. Seeds are enclosed inside the
fruit. There are two groups of flowering plants- monocot and dicot plants.
Monocot plants
Monocots include grains, bamboo, bananas, corn, daffodils, garlic, ginger, grass, lilies,
onions, orchids, rice, sugarcane, tulips, and wheat.
Monocot plants have:
 seeds with a single cotyledon
 parallel-veined leaves
 fibrous root system
 Flower parts (petals) usually found in multiples of 3.

Single
cotyledon Parallel veins Fibrous root Petals found in multiples of 3

Dicot plants
Include Rose Mango, Pansies, Marigolds, Sunflowers Buttercups, Dandelions, Maple, and
Grapes Strawberries, Tomatoes Squash Beans etc.
Dicot plants have:
 seeds with two cotyledons
 Branched veins

 Vascular tissue in the form of a ring and tap root system.

 Flower parts (petals) usually found in multiples of 4 or 5.

Two cotyledons Netted veins Tap root Petals multiples of 4

or 5
Differences between monocot and dicot plant

VIRUSES
 Viruses are not part of any classification system as they are not
considered living things
 They do not carry out the seven life processes for themselves,
instead they take over a host cell’s metabolic pathways in order to
make multiple copies of themselves
 Virus structure is simply genetic material (RNA or DNA) inside a
protein coat
 Dichotomous keys

A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the user to determine the identity of items in the
natural world.
 It helps scientists to determine the difference between organisms and their
characteristics.
 It is easier for the scientists to identify the organisms

Keys consist of a series of choices that lead the user to the correct name of a given item.
“Dichotomous” means “divided into 2 parts”. Dichotomous keys always give 2 choices in
each step.

 Always Begin with the 1st pair of descriptions.

 At the end of each description is either a classification or directions to go to another

step.

 DO NOT SKIP STEPS!!!!!!!

Can you solve this key?