BSB

IGCSE Biology 
Revision Guide I 
Classifica on of Living Organisms

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 KEY VOCABULARY

excretion cytoplasm
respiration pathogen
nutrition malaria
sensitivity parasitic
reproduction nucleic acid
multicellular photosynthesis
mitochondria chitin
hyphae saprotrophic
mycelium glycogen
microscopic extracellular







 I: Classi ication of Living Organisms

Biology is the study of living organisms.

A. For something to be alive it needs to perform all seven functions of living
things: (MRS GREN)

1. Movement

Most organisms are able to move their whole body ‐ even plants can shift their
stem towards the sunlight and their roots move towards healthy soil.

2. Respiration

This is the breakdown of food inside a living organism. It is VITAL for survival.

2 types:

Aerobic Respiration which involves O2 & glucose breaking down to form CO2,
water & ENERGY.

Anaerobic Respiration This happens when there is not enough oxygen. Glucose
forms CO2, Lactic Acid, or Alcohol (depending on the organism) & a little bit of
ENERGY.

3. Sensitivity

The ability to detect and respond to a stimulus.

4. Growth

The permanent increase in size and quantity of cells using materials absorbed
from the environment.

5. Reproduction

Forming new individuals of the same species either sexual (2 parents) or asexual
(1 parent).

6. Excretion

Removal of harmful products of metabolism. E.g. carbon dioxide, urea,

salts, excess water.

7. Nutrition

The intake of food material from the environment or using energy from an
inorganic source (i.e., the sun) to make glucose (photosynthesis).
 B. Classi ication is sorting organisms into smaller groups based on their similarities which allows us to
make comparison between them.
The main groups of living things are the 5 kingdoms. They do not include viruses since they do not possess
some characteristics of life. The ive kingdoms are: Bacteria, Protoctists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.
Bacteria

MICROSCOPIC, UNICELLULAR

Have a cell wall (not of cellulose) and cell membrane, cytoplasm and only a circular chromosome of
DNA

Some carry out photosynthesis; some are parasitic

E.g. Lactobacillus bulgaricus ‐ makes yoghurt from milk; Pneumococcus ‐ the pathogen that causes pneurmonia
Fungi

Made of thread‐like structures called HYPHAE, often organised into a MYCELIUM

Some are UNICELLULAR (yeast)

Cell walls of CHITIN

Feed by secreting digestive enzymes onto food and absorbing the products (SAPROTROPHIC nutrition)

Store carbohydrate as GLYCOGEN

E.g. Mucor (typical fungal hyphal structure) and yeast (unicellular)
Plants

Multicellular

Contain chloroplasts and carry out photosynthesis

Cellulose cell walls

Carbohydrates are stored as STARCH or sucrose

E.g. Maize (type of cereal), peas (legume)
Animals

Multicellular

Usually have nervous coordination and can move

Cells do not possess chloroplasts, cell wall, or vacuole

Carbohydrates are stored as GLYCOGEN

E.g. Mammals, such as humans, and insects, such as the house ly or mosquito
Protoctists

Microscopic, unicellular

Some have animal cell characteristics, some have plant cell characteristics

Some are pathogenic

E.g. Amoeba (animal‐like); Chlorella (plant‐like), Plasmodium (pathogenic)
Viruses

ARE NOT LIVING ORGANISMS, SO ARE NOT A KINGDOM

Very small (smaller than bacteria)

Parasitic; can reproduce only inside other cells

Infect every type of living organism

No cellular structure and only a PROTEIN COAT and either DNA or RNA as a nucleic acid
E.g. Tobacco mosaic virus (discolours tobacco plants by preventing formation of chloroplasts); In luenza
(causes “the lu”); HIV (causes AIDS).

EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS