Kingdom of Life

• Key groups of living organisms

  • Animals
  • Plants
  • Fungi
  • Protists
  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
• Animals


  • Multicellular
  • Heterotrophs
  • Reproduce sexually
• Plants


  • Multicellular
  • Autotrophs (get energy from sun via photosynthesis)
• 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
  • Some are pathogens
• Protists


  • Mostly unicellular
  • Some are autotrophs (have chloroplasts), some are heterotrophs
  • Some are pathogens
• Bacteria


  • Unicellular
  • Some photosynthesise but don't have chloroplasts
  • Mostly heterotrophs
  • Extremely numerous, more species than all other kingdoms combined
  • Some are pathogens, many are helpful
• Viruses


  • Extremely small particles, not cells
  • Have protein coat and genetic material (DNA or RNA)
  • Can only reproduce by infecting living cells
  • All are considered pathogens
• Eukaryotes (animals, plants, fungi, protists) have DNA in chromosomes and a nucleus, while prokaryotes (bacteria) have loose DNA and no nucleus
• Viruses are not considered living organisms, they are not classified into any of the kingdoms
• Viruses are 10-100 times smaller than prokaryotic cells, and 10-100 times smaller than eukaryotic cells