biology aqa

• Fungi

  • Some are multicellular, some are unicellular
  • Heterotrophs (get energy from other organisms)
  • Use saprotrophic nutrition (secrete digestive enzymes, absorb nutrients)
  • Some have a mycelium body made of hyphae
• Protists


  • Mostly unicellular
  • Some are autotrophs (can photosynthesize), others are heterotrophs
  • Some are pathogens that can cause disease
• Bacteria


  • Unicellular
  • Some can photosynthesize but do not have chloroplasts
  • Most feed off living or dead organisms
  • Estimated to have more species than all other kingdoms combined
  • Some are pathogens that can cause disease, but most are harmless or beneficial
• Viruses


  • Not cells, just particles
  • Extremely small, can fit millions across a fingernail
  • Have a protein coat surrounding genetic material (DNA or RNA)
  • Can only reproduce by infecting and using other living cells
  • All viruses are considered pathogens as they cause harm to host organisms
• The five kingdoms of life (excluding viruses) are: animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria
• Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are all eukaryotic organisms, while bacteria are prokaryotic
• Viruses are not considered living organisms and do not belong to any of the five kingdoms
• Non-living things may have some of these features, but only living things have all seven
• Movement


  Ability of organisms to move, either the whole organism or just part of it
• Respiration


  Chemical reactions that take place in cells to break down nutrients and release energy for metabolism
• Sensitivity


  Ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
• Growth


  Permanent increase in size and dry mass of an organism
• Reproduction


  Process that makes more of the same kind of organism
• Excretion


  Removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
• Nutrition


  Taking in of materials for energy, growth and development
• All living organisms are made up of one or more cells
• Viruses are not considered living organisms because they do not meet all seven characteristics