Taxonomic Classifications

1. Taxonomic Classifications Note-taking Worksheet

2. All organisms are composed of one or more cells.

3. A prokaryotic cell is a cell that lacks a nucleus. Most are uni-cellular, meaning there is only one cell to the entire organism. There are only two types of prokaryotic cells; bacteria and archaea.

4. A eukaryotic cell has a nucleus. Almost all species of large organisms are eukaryotes, including animals, plants and fungi.

5. A heterotroph is an organism that eats something else for food and energy, and could also be called consumers.

6. An autotroph is an organism that makes their own food used for energy, and could also be called producers.

7. There are two different types of reproduction: Asexual – a type of reproduction in which a new organism is produced from only one organism.

8. There are two different types of reproduction: Sexual – a type of reproduction in which a new organism is produced from two organisms.

9. Quiz Time Questions • What do you call an organism that eats something else for food and energy? • What is the name for a cell that has a nucleus? • Which type of reproduction is produced from one organism? • What is the name for the organisms that lacks a nucleus? • During sexual reproduction, a new organism is produced from _______ organism(s). • What do you call an organism that makes their own food used for energy?

10. Classify the deer as:A) prokaryotic or eukaryoticB) heterotrophic or autotrophicC) asexual or sexual Example 1: A deer eats grass, shrubs and several other types of vegetation. It takes two deer to produce a new deer. The cells in a deer’s body all have a nucleus. Answer: A) Eukaryotic, B) Heterotrophic, C) Sexual

11. Example 2: A pine tree makes its own food using the sun’s energy. They need two trees to make a new pine tree. All the cells in a pine tree have a nucleus. Classify the pine tree as:A) prokaryotic or eukaryoticB) heterotrophic or autotrophicC) asexual or sexual Answer: A) Eukaryotic, B) Autotrophic, C) Sexual

12. Example 3: Bacteria’s cells lack a nucleus. They can sometimes make their own food and sometimes eat something else for energy. They can reproduce more bacteria on their own without the help of any other bacteria. Classify the bacteria as:A) prokaryotic or eukaryoticB) heterotrophic or autotrophicC) asexual or sexual Answer: A) Prokaryotic, B) Autotrophic OR heterotrophic, C) Asexual

13. Example 4: A mushroom can reproduce on its own or with another mushroom. A mushroom lives on eating the remains or wastes of others. The cells in a mushroom all have a nucleus. Classify the mushroom as:A) prokaryotic or eukaryoticB) heterotrophic or autotrophicC) asexual or sexual Answers: A) Eukaryotic, B) Heterotrophic, C) Sexual OR Asexual

14. Taxonomic Classifications Taxonomic Classifications refers to the arrangement of living things into orderly groups based on their similarities. Each type of classified organism is given a unique scientific name.

15. Today’s living organisms are classified using an eight-level system of organization. The levels are domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.

16. A domain is the highest taxonomic rank of organisms, higher than a kingdom.

17. There are three different domains:A) Thebacteria domain consists of single-celled microorganisms that are prokaryotic.

18. There are three different domains:B) Thearchaea domain contains single-celled microorganisms. They are prokaryotic and have no other organelles within their cells. The main difference between bacteria and archaea is that archaea has some similar characteristics as multi-celled organisms, though they remain uni-cellular.

19. There are three different domains:C) The eukarya domain consists of organisms where their cells contain a nucleus (eukaryotic). Their cells tend to have complex structures and they belong to multi-cellular organisms.

20. A kingdom is the second highest taxonomic rank of organisms. There are six different kingdoms: animalia, plantae, fungi, protista, archaea and bacteria.

21. The animalia kingdom is mostly multi-cellular, eukaryotic and heterotrophic. The animalia kingdom reproduces sexually. Examples of animalia organisms: humans, fish, insects, frogs, whales and many more!

22. The plantae kingdom is mostly multi-cellular, eukaryotic and autotrophic. The plantae kingdom can reproduce either sexually or asexually. Examples of plantae organisms: trees, ferns, mosses, grasses, flowers and several others!

23. The fungi kingdom is mostly multi-cellular, eukaryotic and heterotrophic. The fungi kingdom also reproduces by sexual and asexual reproduction. Examples of fungi organisms: yeast, molds and mushrooms.

24. The protista kingdom can be either uni-cellular or multi-cellular but with simple cellular organization. They are eukaryotic and can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic. The protista kingdom can reproduce either sexually or asexually. They do not have specialized tissues like the animal, plant and fungi kingdoms. Examples of protista organisms: algae, euglena, amoeba, spirogyra and others.

25. The archaea kingdom is unicellular, prokaryotic and can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic. The archaea kingdom reproduces asexually. Archaea tend to live in extreme environments. Examples of archaea organisms: halophiles, thermoplasma, and archaeoglobus. A micrograph of a cluster of salt-loving (halophilic) archaea (left). Archaeal cells like these live in salt ponds in San Francisco Bay, California. The salt concentration of the water in the salt ponds is higher than seawater. The water turns red from pigments made by halophilic archaea

26. The bacteria kingdom is all uni-cellular, prokaryotic and either autotrophic or heterotrophic. The bacteria kingdom reproduces mostly asexually. Examples of bacteria organisms: salmonella, E. coli and several others.