Learning outcomes:

1. Describe the characteristics of living organisms by describing:

(a) movement as an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place
(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for
metabolism
(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment
(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and dry mass
(e) reproduction as the processes that make more of the same kind of organism
(f) excretion as the removal of the waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements
(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development
2. State that organisms can be classified into groups by the features that they share
3. Describe a species as a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
4. Describe the binomial system of naming species as an internationally agreed system in which the scientific
name of an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species
5. Construct and use dichotomous keys based on identifiable features
6. Explain that classification systems aim to reflect evolutionary relationships
7. Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are used as a means of classification
8. Explain that groups of organisms which share a more recent ancestor (are more closely related) have base
sequences in DNA that are more similar than those that share only a distant ancestor
9. State the main features used to place animals and plants into the appropriate kingdoms
10. State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the animal kingdom, limited to:
(a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
(b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods, insects, arachnids, crustaceans
11. Classify organisms using the features identified in 1.3.1 and 1.3.2
12. State the main features used to place all organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal, plant, fungus,
prokaryote, protoctist
13. State the main features used to place organisms into groups within the plant kingdom, limited to ferns and
flowering plants (dicotyledons and monocotyledons)
14. Classify organisms using the features identified in 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
15. State the features of viruses, limited to a protein coat and genetic material
1. State the characteristics of living organisms and define them?

Movement: an action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place

Respiration: the chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to release energy for
metabolism

Sensitivity: the ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and to make
appropriate responses

Growth: a permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size or both

Reproduction: the processes that make more of the same kind of organism

Excretion: the removal from organisms of toxic materials, the waste products of metabolism (chemical
reactions in cells including respiration) and substances in excess of requirements

Nutrition: the taking in of materials for energy, growth and development; plants require light, carbon
dioxide, water and ions; animals need organic compounds, ions and usually need water

2. Define species?

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring

3. Define binomial system?

The binomial system of naming species is an internationally agreed system in which the scientific name of
an organism is made up of two parts showing the genus and species

4. Describe the rules for naming organisms?

Genus name first (with capital); Species name second (lowercase). In italics if typed or printed. E.g. Homo
sapiens.

5. Explain how organisms are classified originally?

Based on morphology (the overall form and shape of the organism, e.g. whether it had wings or legs)
Anatomy (the detailed body structure as determined by dissection)

6. Explain the modern classification system?

 Studies of DNA sequences of different species show that the more similar the base
sequences in the DNA of two species, the more closely related those two species
are (and the more recent in time their common ancestor is).
 As DNA base sequences are used to code for amino acid sequences in proteins, the
similarities in amino acid sequences can also be used to determine how closely related
organisms are
7. Differentiate between the five-animal kingdom?

8. Differentiate between monocots and dicots?

FEATURE MONOCOTYLEDON DICOTYLEDON

Leaf Shape Long and narrow Broad

Leaf veins parallel Branching

Cotyledons one Two

(seed leaf)

Grouping of flower In threes In fives

parts
9. Differentiate between the classes of arthropods?

10. Differentiate between the kingdoms?

Kingdoms Multicellular or Nutrition Cell wall with Nucleus Examples

single celled its composition
Animal Multi cellular Heterotrophs absent Present
Plant Multi cellular Autotrophs Present - Present
cellulose
Fungi Multi cellular Parasitic or Present - chittin Present
saprophytic
Protoctista Single Can be Some has Present
autotrophs, Present –
heterotrophs or cellulose
saprotrophs! Others absent
Prokaryotes Single Parasitic or Present - murein Absent
saprophytic
 Virus Non-cellular parasitic Absent Absent

11. Create a dichotomous key to distinguish between fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds?

12. Differentiate between bacteria and virus

Learning outcomes:
1. Describe and compare the structure of a plant cell with an animal cell, limited to: cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus,
cytoplasm, chloroplasts, ribosomes, mitochondria, vacuoles
2. Describe the structure of a bacterial cell, limited to: cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, circular DNA,
plasmids
3. Identify the cell structures listed in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in diagrams and images of plant, animal and bacterial cells
4. Describe the functions of the structures listed in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in plant, animal and bacterial cells
5. State that new cells are produced by division of existing cells 6 State that specialised cells have specific functions,
limited to:
(a) ciliated cells – movement of mucus in the trachea and bronchi
(b) root hair cells – absorption
(c) palisade mesophyll cells – photosynthesis
(d) neurones – conduction of electrical impulses
(e) red blood cells – transport of oxygen
(f) sperm and egg cells (gametes) – reproduction
6. Describe the meaning of the terms: cell, tissue, organ, organ system and organism as illustrated by examples given in
the syllabus
7. State and use the formula: magnification = image size ÷ actual size
8. Calculate magnification and size of biological specimens using millimetres as units Supplement
9. Convert measurements between millimetres (mm) and micrometres (μm)
1. What are the main features of animals?
 They are multicellular
 Their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
 Their cells do not have cellulose cell walls
 Their cells do not contain chloroplasts (so they are unable to carry out photosynthesis)
 They feed on organic substances made by other living things
 They often store carbohydrates as glycogen
 They usually have nervous coordination
 They are able to move from place to place

2. What are the main features of plants?

 They are multicellular
 Their cells contain a nucleus with a distinct membrane
 Their cells have cell walls made out of cellulose
 Their cells contain chloroplasts (so they can carry out photosynthesis)
 They feed by photosynthesis
 They store carbohydrates as starch or sucrose
 They do not have nervous coordination

3. What are the functions of features found only in plants?

4. What are the functions of main features found in both animals and plants?
5. What are the features of bacterial cell?