IGCSE Biology Exam Study Guide
The seven characteristics of living organisms - -Nutrition : taking in , absorbing, and using nutrients
which contain raw materials for energy for growth and tissue repair
-Excretion : removal of water products if metabolism , toxic materials and substance
-Respiration : the chemical reaction that breaks down food to release energy for metabolism
-Sensitivity : the ability to detect or sense stimuli to make an appropriate response
-Reproduction : process of making more of the same kind of organism
-Growth : an increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell # or cell size or both
-Movement : an action by an organism causing a change in position or place
Describe how organisms can be organized - - Through the classification system which organizes
according to the greater/lesser extent of their similarities to other organisms
Define species - - A specie is a group of organisms that share the many similar appearances and can
breed with each other
Define and describe the binomial system - The system of classifying organisms using two names - genus
and species - which are written in Latin genus (*always Capital Letter ) and species (*always Small
Letter ) example * Homo sapiens *
Explain that classification systems in regards to evolutionary relationships, morphology and
anatomy,DNA and amino acids - - traditionally base on studies of morphology / anatomy
- aims to reflect evolutionary relationships
- DNA : The sequences of DNA bases and amino acids aid in provides more accurate classifications
,Explain the relationship between a recent ancestor and a distant ancestor - - Your more recent
ancestors will have base sequences of DNA that have higher similarities than those of your distance
ancestor
List the features in the cells of all living organisms - - The cell is the basic unit of structure and function
of living organisms
- All living organisms are composed of or more cells
- Cell arise from pre - existing cells through cell division
List the main features of Animals - - Cells have a nucleus , but no cell wall or chloroplast
- Multicellular (contain many cells )
- Feeds on organic substances made by other living organisms
List the main features of Plants -
List the main features of Fungus - - Have nucleus
- Multicellular
- Some can be useful while others are harmful
- Do not have chlorophyll or perform photosynthesis
- Have cell walls , not made of cellulose
- Feed parasitically on organic material (feces , human foods , dead plants or animal )
List the main features of Prokaryotes - - Have gills
- Have find
- All live in water
- Vertebrates with scaly skin
, List the main features of Protista - - Adult often lives on land
- Vertebrates with moist , scale - less skin
- Most live on land , they always go back to water to breed
- Eggs laid in water , larva (tadpole) lives in water
List the main features within the animal kingdom
, limited to : mammals - - Exoskeleton that is waterproof
- Several pairs of jointed legs
- More arthropods than all other kinds of animals
List the main features within the anal
Kingdom , limited to : birds - - Each segment has a jointed leg
- Centipedes and millipedes
- Body contain many segments
List the main features within the animal kingdom , limited to : reptiles - - Breathe through the trachea
- Arthropods with three pairs of jointed legs
- Two pairs of wings (one or both may be vestigial)
- Body divided into head , thorax and abdomen
- Successful due to their exoskeleton and trachea : both aid in stopping water from evaporating from the
body
List the main features within the animal kingdom , limited to : amphibians - - Cells have a nucleus
- A mixture of organisms
- Multicellular or Unicellular
- Cells may or may not have a cell wall or chloroplasts
The seven characteristics of living organisms - -Nutrition : taking in , absorbing, and using nutrients
which contain raw materials for energy for growth and tissue repair
-Excretion : removal of water products if metabolism , toxic materials and substance
-Respiration : the chemical reaction that breaks down food to release energy for metabolism
-Sensitivity : the ability to detect or sense stimuli to make an appropriate response
-Reproduction : process of making more of the same kind of organism
-Growth : an increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell # or cell size or both
-Movement : an action by an organism causing a change in position or place
Describe how organisms can be organized - - Through the classification system which organizes
according to the greater/lesser extent of their similarities to other organisms
Define species - - A specie is a group of organisms that share the many similar appearances and can
breed with each other
Define and describe the binomial system - The system of classifying organisms using two names - genus
and species - which are written in Latin genus (*always Capital Letter ) and species (*always Small
Letter ) example * Homo sapiens *
Explain that classification systems in regards to evolutionary relationships, morphology and
anatomy,DNA and amino acids - - traditionally base on studies of morphology / anatomy
- aims to reflect evolutionary relationships
- DNA : The sequences of DNA bases and amino acids aid in provides more accurate classifications
,Explain the relationship between a recent ancestor and a distant ancestor - - Your more recent
ancestors will have base sequences of DNA that have higher similarities than those of your distance
ancestor
List the features in the cells of all living organisms - - The cell is the basic unit of structure and function
of living organisms
- All living organisms are composed of or more cells
- Cell arise from pre - existing cells through cell division
List the main features of Animals - - Cells have a nucleus , but no cell wall or chloroplast
- Multicellular (contain many cells )
- Feeds on organic substances made by other living organisms
List the main features of Plants -
List the main features of Fungus - - Have nucleus
- Multicellular
- Some can be useful while others are harmful
- Do not have chlorophyll or perform photosynthesis
- Have cell walls , not made of cellulose
- Feed parasitically on organic material (feces , human foods , dead plants or animal )
List the main features of Prokaryotes - - Have gills
- Have find
- All live in water
- Vertebrates with scaly skin
, List the main features of Protista - - Adult often lives on land
- Vertebrates with moist , scale - less skin
- Most live on land , they always go back to water to breed
- Eggs laid in water , larva (tadpole) lives in water
List the main features within the animal kingdom
, limited to : mammals - - Exoskeleton that is waterproof
- Several pairs of jointed legs
- More arthropods than all other kinds of animals
List the main features within the anal
Kingdom , limited to : birds - - Each segment has a jointed leg
- Centipedes and millipedes
- Body contain many segments
List the main features within the animal kingdom , limited to : reptiles - - Breathe through the trachea
- Arthropods with three pairs of jointed legs
- Two pairs of wings (one or both may be vestigial)
- Body divided into head , thorax and abdomen
- Successful due to their exoskeleton and trachea : both aid in stopping water from evaporating from the
body
List the main features within the animal kingdom , limited to : amphibians - - Cells have a nucleus
- A mixture of organisms
- Multicellular or Unicellular
- Cells may or may not have a cell wall or chloroplasts
