Kingdoms 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 that can cause disease
• Protists


  • Mostly unicellular
  • Some are autotrophs (can photosynthesize), some are heterotrophs (consume other organisms)
  • Some are pathogens that can cause disease (e.g. malaria)
• Bacteria


  • Unicellular
  • Some can photosynthesize but don't have chloroplasts
  • Most feed off other 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 helpful
• Viruses


  • Extremely small particles, not cells
  • Have a protein coat surrounding genetic material (DNA or RNA)
  • Can only reproduce by infecting and using other living cells
  • Always act as parasites and cause harm to the host organism
• 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 and do not belong to any of the five kingdoms
• Viruses are 10-100 times smaller than prokaryotic bacteria cells
• Animals


  Group of living organisms that are capable of movement and respond to their environment. Multicellular and heterotrophic. Reproduce sexually.
• Multicellular


  Refers to an organism that is made up of many cells. Allows for specialization of cells and complex structures and behaviors.
• Heterotrophs


  Organisms that cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms to obtain energy. Animals are heterotrophs.
• Reproduce sexually


  Type of reproduction that involves the fusion of two gametes (sex cells) to form a zygote. Leads to genetic diversity in offspring.
• Photosynthesis


  The process by which plants and other autotrophs convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of organic compounds, such as glucose. This process typically takes place in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
• Autotrophs


  Organisms that can produce their own food using energy from the sun or chemical reactions.
• Multicellular


  Describes an organism that is made up of many cells.
• Plants


  Multicellular organisms that are characterized by their ability to photosynthesize and produce their own food.
• Heterotrophic protists


  Protists that obtain energy by ingesting and digesting other organisms, such as bacteria, algae, or other protists. They consume other organisms to obtain energy for growth and reproduction.
• Photosynthesis


  Process by which protists convert light energy into chemical energy, producing glucose and releasing oxygen as a byproduct. These protists create their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
• Light-dependent reactions

  The first stage of photosynthesis, occurring in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts. Absorbed light energy splits water molecules into oxygen, hydrogen ions, and electrons, producing ATP and NADPH for use in the Calvin cycle.