How are organisms classified?

Scientists organize organisms by sorting, or classifying them into groups according to shared characteristics.

Classification has been called the science of finding patterns.

The broadest category an organism can be classified into is a kingdom. Kingdoms are very LARGE groups. Scientists use 6 subgroups to classify within kingdoms.

The smallest group an organism can be classified into is a species. A species only contains organisms that are very closely related.

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

An easy way to help you remember is to use the following: Katy Perry Comes Over For Great Sushi!

Please answer the following question In your notebook:

Why do scientists only use the genus and species names to identify an organism and not all the classification groups?

What are animals?

• Animals are multicellular • Animals do not make their own food • Animals do not have a cell wall • Animals are able to move from place to place

Plant Kingdom

All plants are multicellular and make their own food. Plants are organized into two major groups:

1. Vascular- Contains tubes or vessels 2. Nonvascular- No tubes or vessels

Nonvascular plants remain small and close to the ground, where they soak up water directly.

Animal Kingdom

Vertebrates Invertebrates (Animals with a backbone) (Animals without a backbone)

1. Fish 2. Amphibians 3. Reptiles 4. Birds 5. Mammals

1. Mollusks (shelled animals) 2. Echinoderms (sea stars) 3. Arthropods (insects)

Please answer the following question in your notebook:

An organism looks like an animal but it does not move. How could you determine whether it was an animal?

What are plants and fungi?

Organisms from only two kingdoms, plants and fungi have cell walls.

Fungus Kingdom

Most fungi get energy by breaking down dead or decaying plants and animals. Many fungi are used by humans. Yeast is a fungus that makes bread. Fungi are the original source of medicines called antibiotics.

Please answer the following question in your notebook: How are fungi different from plants? What would happen to a forest without fungi?

Archaebacteria Kingdom

Complex, one-celled organisms, they are found in extreme conditions, such as areas with no oxygen.

Eubacteria Kingdom

Complex, one-celled organisms. Most bacteria are found in this kingdom. They are classified in their own kingdom because their chemical makeup is different. Some produce vitamins and food like yogurt.

Protist Kingdom

Protists are multicellular or unicellular organisms that either make their own food or eat other organisms.