kingdoms

• Animals


  • Multicellular
  • Heterotrophs
  • Reproduce sexually
  • Estimated 5-10 million species
• Plants

  • Multicellular
  • Autotrophs (get energy from sun via photosynthesis)
  • Estimated 300,000 species
• Fungi


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


  • Nearly all are unicellular
  • Some are plant-like (have chloroplasts, photosynthesize)
  • Some are animal-like (consume other organisms)
  • Some are pathogens that can cause disease
• Bacteria


  • Single-celled organisms
  • 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


  • Tiny particles, not cells
  • Have a protein coat surrounding genetic material (DNA or RNA)
  • Can only reproduce by infecting and using other living cells
  • All are considered pathogens as they cause harm to host organisms
• Viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals are the 6 groups of life, with viruses being the only non-living group
• Animals, plants, fungi, and protists are all eukaryotic organisms, while bacteria are prokaryotic
• Eukaryotic cells have DNA in chromosomes and a nucleus, while prokaryotic cells have loose DNA and no nucleus
• Viruses are 10-100 times smaller than prokaryotic cells