1. Characteristics and classification of living organisms
- Syllabus
- 0610–2026–2027
- Section
- 1
- Level
- —
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In this section
Topic 1.1
1.1 Characteristics of living organisms
Objectives in this topic
1.1.1—Characteristics of living organisms
- Describe the characteristics of living organisms by describing: (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
Topic 1.2
1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems
Objectives in this topic
1.2.1—Organisms can be classified into
- State that organisms can be classified into groups by the features that they share
1.2.2—Species as a group of organisms that
- Describe a species as a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
1.2.3—Binomial species names
- Describe the binomial system of naming species as an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species
1.2.4—Dichotomous keys based on identifiable
- Construct and use dichotomous keys based on identifiable features
1.2.5—Classification systems aim to reflect
- Explain that classification systems aim to reflect evolutionary relationships
1.2.6—DNA base sequences for classification
- Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are used as a means of classification
1.2.7—Groups of organisms which share a more
- Explain that groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor (are more closely related) have base sequences in DNA that are more similar than those that share only a distant ancestor
Topic 1.3
1.3 Features of organisms
Objectives in this topic
1.3.1—Main features used to place animals
- State the main features used to place animals and plants into the appropriate kingdoms
1.3.2—Main features used to place organisms
- State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the animal kingdom, limited to: (a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish (b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans
1.3.3—Classify organisms using the features
- Classify organisms using the features identified in 1.3.1 and 1.3.2
1.3.4—Main features used to place all
- State the main features used to place all organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal, plant, fungus, prokaryote, protoctist
1.3.5—Main features used to place organisms
- State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the plant kingdom, limited to ferns and flowering plants (dicotyledons and monocotyledons)
1.3.6—Classify organisms using the features
- Classify organisms using the features identified in 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
1.3.7—Features of viruses
- State the features of viruses, limited to a protein coat and genetic material