WELCOME
TO BIOLOGY
CLASS
CHARACTERISTICS
AND
CLASSIFICATION
OF LIVING
ORGANISMS
PREPARED BY-
SHAHED BULBUL PAPON
LEARNING AIMS
You will gain a foundational understanding of
organism classification, learn the hierarchical
levels of taxonomy, explore diversity within
major groups, and apply classification
techniques, including dichotomous keys.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
You will learn to define taxonomy and its
hierarchical ranks, and understand the major
kingdoms and phyla within the domains of life.
You will practice using dichotomous keys to classify
and identify various organisms, applying their
knowledge to real-world examples and case studies.
KEYWORDS
Nutrition
Respiration
Movement
Excretion
Growth
Reproduction Genus
Sensitivity Species
Classification Binomial system
Kingdom Dichotomous Keys
Does anyone knows who she is?
Hello I am MRS
GREN. And I will help
you to remember
the 7 life processes
Describe the characteristics of living
organisms
(a) movement as an action by an organism or part of an
organism causing a change of position or place
(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in cells that break
down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism
(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and respond to changes in
the internal or external environment
(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and dry mass
(e) reproduction as the processes that make more of the same
kind of organism
(f) excretion as the removal of the waste products of
metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for energy, growth and
development
SPECIES
species Is a group of
organisms that can reproduce
to produce fertile offspring
GENUS
a taxonomic group covering
more than one species.
BINOMIAL SYSTEM
Organisms can be classified into different groups
based on their characteristics and evolutionary
relationships. The classification system used today is
called taxonomy, and it categorizes organisms into
hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics.
Here are the main levels of classification:
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class
Order Family Genus Species
BINOMIAL SYSTEM
The binomial system of naming organisms, also known
as binomial nomenclature, was developed by Carl
Linnaeus in the 18th century. It assigns each species a
unique two-part scientific name, comprising the genus
name (capitalized) followed by the species epithet
(not capitalized). Together, these names form a
Latinized scientific name that is universally
recognized and used in biological classification.
BINOMIAL SYSTEM
Here's an example:
Scientific Name: Panthera leo
In this example:
Genus: Panthera (capitalized)
Species Epithet: leo (not capitalized)
So, Panthera leo refers to the species
commonly known as the lion. This
naming system ensures clarity and
precision in identifying and classifying
organisms, regardless of language or
region.
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
A dichotomous key is a tool used in biology to identify
organisms based on a series of choices that lead the
user to the correct identification.
Here’s an example of a simple dichotomous key to
identify common invertebrates:
DICHOTOMOUS KEY
1.a. Body has segments - go to step 2
b. Body does not have segments - go to step 3
2. a. Body has jointed legs - go to step 4
b. Body does not have jointed legs - Earthworm
3. a. Body has a hard shell - Snail
b. Body does not have a hard shell - Slug
4. a. Six legs - Insect (e.g., Ant)
b. More than six legs - go to step 5
5. a. Eight legs - Arachnid (e.g., Spider)
b. More than eight legs - go to step 6
6. a. Body divided into two main parts - Centipede
b. Body divided into multiple segments - Millipede
VERTEBRATES
INVERTEBRATE
Classification of Plants
Ferns: Flowering plants:
Do not produce They are plants with roots,
stems and leaves
flowers/seeds
Reproduce sexually through
They are plants with roots, flowers and seeds
stems and feathery leaves Seeds are produced inside the
Reproduce by spores ovary in the flower
Monocotyledons Dicotyledons
One cotyledon/One-seed
Two cotyledons/Two-seed leaf
leaf
Parallel veins Branching veins
Long Narrow Leaf Broad leaves
The Number of Petals is a The Number of Petals is a
Multiple of 3 Multiple of 4 or 5
Scattered Vascular Bundles Ringed Vascular Bundles