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What is Biology?
What is Science?
Science is a way of gaining knowledge and understanding about our natural world.
Whenever we ask why or how something happens we are dealing with science.
What is Biology?
Biology is the study of living things.
There are six major categories (Kingdoms) that living things have been divided into:
Animals
Plants
Fungi
Protista
Bacteria
Archaea
There are many branches or divisions of biology, each specializing in the study of a specific group of living
things.
Division Area of Specialty
What is a living thing?
In order for something to be considered alive it must show certain characteristics. Living things…
are composed of cells
require energy (for movement, repair etc…)
grow
respond to the environment
have a limited life span
produce waste (heat, carbon dioxide, urine etc…)
produce offspring like themselves
evolve or change over time
Living things will show all of these characteristics but there are some exceptions. For example, a horse + a
donkey = a mule.
Non-living things may show one or a few of these characteristics but not all.
Development of the Cell Theory Throughout history people have wondered what causes life and how life is maintained. It was not until
the invention of the microscope and improvements on the microscope that we were able to look at living
tissues and make detailed observations.
With these observations scientists came up with a formal cell theory that is used to explain
observations of living things.
1. All living things are composed of one or more cells.
2. The cell is the basic organizational unit of life.
3. All cells come from previously existing cells.
Types of Microscopes
Simple Light Microscope – single hand-held lens (earliest type of microscope)
Compound Light Microscope - contains 2 lenses, an eyepiece (ocular lens) and objective lenses.
Transmission Electron Microscope – uses an invisible beam of electrons to pass through an object.
Specimen must be dead and sliced very thin. Is capable of
magnifying up to 5 000 000 x.
Scanning Electron Microscope – reflects electrons from the surface of a specimen, allowing thicker
specimens to be viewed. Is capable of magnifying up to 300 000 x.
Historical Look at the Cell Aristotle - Classified all known organisms into two kingdoms: plant and animal. (334 BC)
Robert Hooke - Observed tree bark lining with a compound microscope; described the magnification as “empty room-like
compartments or cells” (1665)
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek - Reports living “beasties” as small as 0.002 mm observed with a simple single lens microscope
(1674)
Matthias Jacob Schleiden - “All plants are made of cells” (1838)
Theodor Shwann - “All animals are made of cells” (1839)
Carl Heinrich Braun - “The cell is the basic unit of life” (1845)
Rudolph Virchow - “Cells are the last link in a great chain [that forms] tissues, organs, systems and individuals… Where a cell
exists, there must have been a pre-existing cell…Throughout the whole series of living forms… there rules
an eternal law of continuous development” (1858)
Loiuse Pasteur - Demonstrates that living organisms cannot arise spontaneously from non-living matter (1860)
Classification of Organisms
Taxonomy - the science of organizing and classifying living things according to several criteria.
The purpose of classification is to provide a clear and practical way to organize and
communicate information about organisms. Classification reduces confusion, provides clues
about organisms’ structures and indicates lines of decent (lineage).
A History of Classification
1. Aristotle
Greek philosopher (322 B.C.)
Divided organisms into 2 groups - plants and animals
Divided animals into 3 groups according to how they move - walking, flying, or swimming
System was used into the 1600’s
2. Carolus Linnaeus
Classified plants and animals according to similarities in form - the more features organisms
have in common, the closer the relationship
His classification system is still used today
Designed a system in which each organism is given a 2-part scientific name (latin)
He called this binomial nomenclature
1. “Genus” is always capitalized 2. “species” remains uncapitalized
The scientific way of writing binomial nomenclature would be in italics or underlined.
Examples:
Salmo salar Atlantic salmon Canis familiaris Dog
Felis domesticus Cat Canis lupus Wolf
Levels of Classification
Rank - categories used to classify organisms.
There are 8 ranks to distinguish between different degrees of similarity, organisms are
classified according to six Kingdoms within three Domains. Each kingdom is subdivided into
progressively smaller groups. The named group for each organism is referred to as its taxon.
As you proceed down the ranks, the numbers of members of each taxon becomes fewer.
Rank Human Taxa ______Taxa
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primate
Family Hominidae
Genus Homo Species sapiens
The most widely used definition of a species is the biological species concept. This idea focuses
on organisms that interbreed freely in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring. There are
also the morphological species concept (similarities in appearance) and the phylogenetic species
concept (evolutionary relationships).
3. Charles Darwin
Ushered in a new era of taxonomy with the publication, The Origin of Species (1859)
Identified natural selection as a driving force behind evolution
Focus on groups that had descended from a common ancestor
Attempts were made to find, “missing links” between higher taxa, such as the fossil
Archaeopteryx between reptile and birds
4. Modern Taxonomy
Advances in molecular biology have had a huge impact on the field of taxonomy
Biologists can now clone and sequence the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of many different
organisms and compare these DNA sequences to estimate relationships and construct
classification systems
Dichotomous Keys
A dichotomous key is a tools used to aid in the identification of organisms. In this
type of key, 2 questions are asked about the organism. Based on your response you
are directed to another question in the key.
Example:
_________
Determining Relatedness in Species One goal of taxonomy is to determine the evolutionary history of groups of organisms. To do this, scientists compare species
living today with species that existed in the past. To study evolutionary relationships, scientists can use several different
forms of evidence:
1. Evidence from Anatomy
By studying the anatomy of living organisms or fossil remains, scientists are
able to determine the evolutionary history of different organisms. Biological
features that have a common evolutionary origin are said to be homologous.
For example: the bones in a human arm, a cat’s leg, a bat's wing and a
whale's flipper.
Homologous structures differ from analogous structure; these are ones that
perform the same or similar functions by a similar mechanism but evolved
separately. For example, the wing of a bird and an insect.
2. Evidence from Development
Scientists compare the early stages of development of an
organism to reveal relationships that are not always obvious
from comparison of adult organisms alone.
3. Evidence from biochemistry
Scientists are now able to compare the molecules from which
organisms are made. Comparison of macromolecules like
proteins among organisms can indicate genetic similarities and
differences.
4. Evidence from DNA
The study of DNA can determine the percentage of genes in
common for different organisms. The DNA from humans and
chimpanzees are
98% identical.
DNA analysis can also determine how long ago two species began to diverge from a
common ancestor. Divergence can be predicted by studying mitochondrial DNA
(which differs from chromosomal DNA) as it is passed directly from a mother to
her offspring and mutates at a predictable rate.
Phylogeny
When scientists classify species into various taxa, they are presenting a
hypothesis about the evolutionary history, or phylogeny of the organisms. This
information is often organized in a phylogenetic tree.
The base of the tree represents the oldest ancestral species, the upper branches
represent the present-day descendant species and forks are where a species
split into two new species. New features evolved from a primitive ancestor are
called derived characteristics.
Prokaryotes Eukaryotes
Kingdoms
Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Arrangement of DNA
Plasmid DNA (circular)
Single chromosomal
DNA
Not bounded by a
membrane - Nucleoid
Chromosomal DNA
In nucleus bounded by a membrane
Cell Division
Binary fission
Conjugation
Mitosis
Meiosis
Reproduction
Usually asexual Usually sexual
Cell Structures
no membrane bound
organelles
no mitochondria
many membrane bound organelles
Size
small (1-10 μm) large (100-1000 μm)
Oxygen Requirements
anaerobic (no O2) aerobic (O2)
Examples
Escherichia coli
Bacillus subtilis
Paramecium
Nerve cell
Etc…
SBI 3UI
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes
Kingdom Archaea
The Kingdom Archaea contains one of the oldest groups of organisms on Earth. These
micro-organisms are all single celled (unicellular) prokaryotes and tend to live in very
extreme environments (extremophiles). Some environments where they thrive are:
Extremely cold or hot water and land masses(-4oC, 95oC)
Highly Acidic and/or basic waters (ph 2, ph 12)
Extremely salty waters (25%)
Archaea have evolved diverse ways to obtain their energy. Some are anaerobic and
obtain their energy from inorganic molecules (chemotrophs), while others are aerobic
and obtain their energy from organic molecules (heterotrophs). Others use light
(phototrophs) as their energy source.
Although members of Kingdom Archaea and Bacteria look similar in appearance to each
other, biochemically and genetically they are more different than plants and animals.
The genes (DNA) of the two kingdoms differ, as well as the composition of their RNA.
In addition, the cell membranes of organisms within Kingdom Archaea contain unusual
lipids that allow them to survive in extreme environments that would normally kill most
cells.
Archaea’s ability to flourish in such extreme conditions is unique and not completely
understood. But the fact that these micro-organisms can tolerate such environments
have allowed scientists to use some of their components (enzymes) when conducting
experiments that require harsh processing i.e. PCR – polymerase chain reaction
Kingdom Archaea can be divided into two major phyla :
1. Euarchaeota – which contains three main groups of archaea:
a) Methanogens (methane producing)
Live in oxygen free environments and produce methane as a waste product
Utilize inorganic molecules such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas or hydrogen sulfide as a
source of energy
Found below the surfaces of swamps, and marshes, as well as sewage disposal plants
Example: Methanococcus jannischii. This organism was isolated from a "white smoker"
hydrothermal vent some 2600m deep on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean...at a place called
the East Pacific Rise.
b) Halophiles (salt loving) Live in extremely saline environments – concentrations may reach up to 25% (seawater is
3.5% salt)
Found in the Dead Sea, as well as other hypersaline water bodies including the interior
lakes of San Salvador Island in the Bahamas
Example: Halobacterium salinarium carries out aerobic respiration but in water up to 5M
(25%!) NaCl (salt). It can be found in the Great Salt Lake in Utah and the Red Sea in Asia
Minor.
c) Thermophiles (heat loving)
Live in extremely hot water or land masses
Can be found in piles of hot coals or in rocks deep below Earth’s surface
2. Crenarcheaota – most of the organisms in this phylum are:
a) Thermoacidophiles (heat and acid loving) Live in very acidic hot water environments (corrosive conditions)
Grow best at temperatures above 80oC
Some use carbon dioxide (autotrophic) while others use sulfur from hot sulfur springs as
their energy source
Found in hot springs, volcanoes, and deep sea vents
While many archaea live in harsh environments, they have since been found in a broad range of
habitats, such as soils, oceans, and marshlands. Archaea are particularly numerous in the
oceans, and the archaea in plankton may be one of the most abundant groups of organisms on
the planet. Archaea are now recognized as a major part of life of Earth and may play an
important role in both the carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle. No clear examples of archaea
pathogens are known.
Kingdom Bacteria
All are prokaryotes and the majority live as single cells (unicellular) but some occur in colonies.
They reproduce mainly asexually by binary fission but can have a sexual reproductive stage
(conjugation). Most bacteria are heterotrophs, but some bacteria can perform photosynthesis
(cyanobacteria)
Biological Importance of Bacteria
Advantages
1) Industry
Used in the production of cheese, vinegar, yogurt etc…
2) Agriculture Used as natural pesticides or added to soils to enrich nitrogen content (nitrogen fixation)
3) Decomposers
Recycle organic material from dead organisms. Some bacteria are found in our intestines and
aid in the digestion process.
4) Genetic Engineering
Scientists have used bacteria to study cell metabolism and molecular biology.
Engineered bacteria are used to produce useful substances like: insulin, antibiotics,
hormones and anti-cancer drugs.
5) Fighting Disease
Some bacteria naturally produce substances, which inhibit the growth of harmful organisms
(examples: streptomycin, erythromycin)
6) Bioremediation
The process of using bacteria to destroy, transform or immobilized environmental
contaminants.
For example, the bacterium Pseudomonas is used in the treatment of wastewater and
sewage; a toxic wood preservative can be removed from soil by a bacterium from the genus
Flavobacterium.
A relationship between two organisms (such as a bacteria and a human or plant or animal) is
called a symbiotic relationship. In cases in which both partners benefit from the
interaction it is referred to as mutualism.
Disadvantages
1) Spoilage of Food
The action of bacterial decomposers can cause food to spoil and become harmful to eat.
Example: Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)
2) Disease
Many bacteria are pathogens. These bacteria can also be termed parasites, meaning that
one organism (the parasite) benefits at the expense of another organism (the host), which is
often harmed but usually not killed.
These pathogenic (disease causing) micro-organisms typically produce deadly substances
called toxins. A toxin is a poison produced in the body of a living organism. It is not harmful
to the organism itself but only to other organisms.
There are two types of toxins that bacteria produce, endotoxins and exotoxins.
Endotoxins Exotoxins
Released when certain bacteria split Released by living, multiplying
bacteria that travel throughout the
host’s body
Seldom fatal Often fatal, highly toxic
Cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea Does not produce fever
Example: Salmonella Example: Botulism
Just one gram of the exotoxin that causes botulism could kill a million people!!!
Classification of Bacteria
Bacteria can be classified using many different criteria. Some of these include:
1) Shape (three types):
cocci (round)
bacillus (rod)
spirillium (spiral)
These shapes can be arranged in patterns or groupings:
singles (mono)
doubles (diplo)
chains (strepto)
clusters (staphylo)
2) Metabolic Needs
Classification based on:
Whether they are heterotrophs or autotrophs
Do they need oxygen? (aerobic or anaerobic)
Special food sources – carbon, nitrogen etc…
Examples:
Term Description
Aerobic Needs oxygen
Obligate anaerobe Die when exposed to oxygen
Facultative anaerobe Can grow with or without oxygen
Phototrophs Use light as an energy source
Chemotrophs Use chemical compounds as an energy
source
Saprotrophs Feed on dead organisms or organic waste
Thermophiles Grow in temperatures above 50oC
Phsychrophiles Grow best in temperatures below 15oC
The Shapes of Bacteria
Thousands of different types of bacteria are known and have been observed. Scientists can tell these organisms
apart by the shape of the bacteria or by the way they join together. Write the meaning of the following terms.
1. bacillus ___________________________ 4. diplo _________________________
2. coccus ___________________________ 5. strepto _______________________
3. spirillum __________________________ 6. staphylo ______________________
Use the terms you defined above to name the bacteria in each diagram below. Write the name on the line below
each diagram. Note: Some names will combine two of the terms. For instance, a chain (strepto) of round
(coccus) bacteria is called a streptococcus.
__________________ ________________ __________________
__________________ ________________ __________________
__________________ ________________ ___________________
3) Colony Morphology
Describes the appearance of a colony in a Petri dish. Such as:
Elevation
Form
Colour
Margin
4) Reaction with Gram Stain
Gram + retain crystal violet stain (purple) - contain a thick protein layer in their cell wall
Gram - do not retain crystal violet stain (pink) – contain a thin protein layer in their cell wall
5) Presence/Absence of:
Flagellum - used for movement
Capsule - usually a carbohydrate layer surrounding the cell used for protection
6) Spore Formation
Dormant form of many bacteria that is highly resistant to environmental conditions
Diagram of a Bacterium
Reproduction in Bacteria The majority of time, prokaryotes reproduce asexually by a process known as binary fission.
Sexual reproduction is not very common in prokaryotes, but does occur in some, such as
Escherichia coli, by a process known as conjugation.
Asexual Reproduction (Binary Fission)
Asexual reproduction is the formation of a new individual from a single organism. It results in a
genetically identical offspring. In favourable conditions, a bacterium can grow and divide
through binary fission in as little as 20 minutes.
Binary fission is prokaryotes can be broken down into stages:
1. DNA replicate (chromosomal and
plasmid), resulting in identical copies
of genetic material
2. The two strands of DNA will then
separate
3. A new plasma membrane and cell wall
will develop through the midsection
of the prokaryote
4. The cells will eventually become two
identical prokaryotes, which may
separate or remain attached
Sexual Reproduction (Conjugation)
Sexual reproduction is a process involving two organisms and results in offspring that are
genetically different from both parents.
Conjugation in prokaryotes can be broken down into stages:
1. Two bacteria join together by forming a specialized structure called a sex pilus.
2. Genetic information (plasmid DNA) is exchanged through the pilus, resulting in an altered
set of characteristics.
3. Following the transfer, the two bacteria separate and can then undergo binary fission.
The result of the uptake of a new piece of DNA by conjugation can have many effects including:
1) Add a new property to the bacterium that was not present before.
2) The replacement of a bacterial gene that has been damaged by a mutation.
In both cases, if the piece of DNA is inserted into the chromosome, then the process is called
recombination.
This produces a permanent change in the DNA of the cell, which is passed on to the offspring
of that cell.
During unfavourable conditions, some prokaryotes survive by forming dormant or resting cells,
called endospores, which can withstand harsh environments such as heat and acidity. When
suitable conditions return, the prokaryote will re-emerge and begin replicating.
Bacterial Growth
Bacterial growth curves take on a particular pattern, which shows the rate at which bacteria
will reproduce when conditions are optimal. A typical growth curve consists of 4 different
phases:
Lag phase – bacteria are adjusting to their new surroundings
Exponential growth phase – bacterial population grows rapidly
Stationary phase – bacteria begin to run out of nutrients; waste starts to
accumulate. The death rate is equal to the birth rate
Death phase – the number of bacteria dying becomes greater than the number
being created
Bacterial Growth Curve
The maximum number of organisms a particular environment can support is
termed the carrying capacity.
Growth rate is the time it takes for a population of bacteria to double in
number.
Like all organisms, bacteria thrive under optimal conditions. The primary reason that our planet isn’t buried under a thick layer of
bacteria can be attributed to the fact that conditions are rarely optimal for
the bacteria to grow. Scientists who study bacteria try to create the
optimal environment in the lab: culture medium with the necessary energy
source, nutrients, pH, and temperature, in which bacteria grow predictably.
Generation times for some common bacteria under optimal conditions of growth
Bacterium Medium Growth Rate
(minutes)
Escherichia coli Glucose-salts 17
Bacillus megaterium Sucrose-salts 25
Streptococcus lactis Milk 26
Streptococcus lactis Lactose broth 48
Staphylococcus aureus Heat infusion broth 27-30
Lactobacillus acidophilus Milk 66-87
Rhizobium japonicum Mannitol-salts-yeast
extract 344-461
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Synthetic 792-932
Treponema pallidum Rabbit testes 1980
Viruses A virus is an extremely small (nanometers), lifeless particle that carries out no metabolic
functions and cannot reproduce on its own. On this basis, viruses occupy a position between
living and non-living matter.
A virus consists of genetic material (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a protein coat (capsid), but lack
all other cell structures.
All viruses are host specific, reproducing by infecting a specific cell and using the host’s
machinery to replicate itself. For this reason they are known as intracellular parasites.
Temperate viruses are those that reproduce without killing their host cell. Typically viruses will
reproduce in two ways: through the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle.
Viral Reproduction
The Lytic Cycle (T4 Example)
Phage finds the right bacterium,
attaches to the cell with its tail
fibres to a specific receptor site
and uses an enzyme to bore a hole
through the cell wall.
Bacteriophage injects its genetic
material into the bacterium.
The bacteriophage genome
makes many copies of itself by
using host machinery (ribosomes).
The bacteriophage components and
proteins continue to be produced.
The components of the
bacteriophage are assembled.
Bacteriophage enzyme breaks down
the bacterial cell wall causes
the bacterium to split open (lyses)
The Lysogenic Cycle
In the lysogenic cycle, the phage's DNA recombines with the bacterial chromosome. Once it has
inserted itself, it is known as a prophage. The bacteria and the prophage can coexist normally.
Sudden changes in the environment may activate the phage nucleic acid and cause a production
of viral particles.
Classification of Viruses
Viruses cannot be classified in the same way as bacteria. Viruses are clustered according to:
i. The type of genetic material (DNA or RNA)
ii. Structure/shape (Rod, Polyhedral, Helical)
iii. The type of host cell they infect (plant, animal, bacteria)
iv. The type of disease they cause
Viral shape is an important characteristic because it…
i. Allows for protection of the nucleic acid
ii. Allows the virus to remain relatively undetected by the host’s immune system
iii. Confers resistance to harsh conditions
iv. Determines the cell receptors to which the virus can attach
Structure of a Virus
How Do Viruses Spread?
Viruses are usually spread by vectors. Vectors are anything that assists the spread of an
infection.
Ex. Animals, humans, water…
How Do Animals Spread Viruses?
Viruses are contained within the infected animal. During a bite, the virus located in the bodily
fluids (saliva or blood) can come into contact with another animal’s blood causing transmission of
the virus infection.
How Do Humans Spread Viruses?
Viruses can be spread by contact of an infected individual’s bodily
secretions with a non-infected individual’s secretions.
Ex. Mouth contact, touching hands, drinking
from the same glass, sexual activity…
How Do Viruses Spread by Water?
Many viruses replicated within the host are excreted and carried away with the sewage. Some
viruses can survive water treatment and are released into lakes and streams.
How do Viruses cause problems in humans?
Typically the symptoms displayed from a viral infection are NOT a result of cells being
destroyed, but rather the body’s own response and attempts to fight off the virus (ex. Fever)
Differences Between the Common Cold (Rhinovirus) and the Flu (Influenza)
Symptoms Cold Flu
Fever Rare Characteristic, high
(100-102°F); lasts three to four days
Headache
Rare
Prominent
General Aches, Pains
Slight
Usual; often severe
Fatigue, Weakness
Quite mild
Can last up to two to three weeks
Extreme Exhaustion
Never
Early and prominent
Stuffy Nose
Common
Sometimes
Sneezing
Usual
Sometimes
Sore Throat
Common
Sometimes
Chest Discomfort,
Cough
Mild to moderate;
hacking cough
Common; can become severe
Complications
Sinus congestion
or earache
Bronchitis, pneumonia;
can be life-threatening,
Vomiting and diarrhea
Prevention
None
Annual vaccination*; Symmetrel, Flumadine, or
Tamiflu (antiviral drugs)
Treatment
Only
temporary
relief of symptoms
Symmetrel, Flumadine, Relenza,
or Tamiflu within 24-48 hours
after onset of symptoms
Incubation Period 1-4 days 1-4 days
Nucleic Acid RNA RNA
Structure
Vaccination – the administration of an antigenic agent that stimulates the body to develop resistance to a
pathogen.
A vaccination against the small pox virus was the first created (1976) and administered on a global scale, such that
it is the only pathogen to be eradicated from the planet (1977).
Kingdom Protista
All Protists share the following features:
Most are unicellular; multicelluar forms do not form tissue
Cells are Eukaryotic
Cells reproduce asexually, but some can reproduce with complex
sexual reproductive cycles
Always found in moist environments (fresh water, salt water, animal fluids…)
The Kingdom Protista can be separated into three distinct groups based on their nutrition:
Plant-like Protists
Animal-like Protists (Protozoa)
Fungi-like Protists (Slime moulds and Water moulds)
Classifying protista can be difficult because the members of this Kingdom are grouped together
mainly because they do not fit into the other Kingdoms, rather than because they are similar or
closely related to one another.
Plant-like Protists (Algae)
These organisms are autotrophs that contain chlorophyll, the pigment that begins the process
of photosynthesis. During periods of darkness, some cells will engulf solid food.
Algae are type of plantlike protist and are responsible for about 80% of the global supply of
oxygen. These can range in size from single cells to giant seaweeds 60 m in length. Algae are
classified into six phyla, based
partly on the type of
chloroplasts and pigments they
contain.
Human waste and industrial
contaminants can reduce algal
populations. Excessive algae
(algal bloom) can block sunlight
from penetrating the water
Algae can be consumed as food,
used as fertilizer or in the
production of cosmetics.
Animal-like Protists (Protozoa)
Protazoa are heterotrophs that move around to obtain food, using cilia, flagella or pseudopods.
Some will engulf their food; others will absorb nutrients directly through their cell membranes.
Some protozoa are unable to move; they are exclusively parasitic and form reproductive cells
called spores.
Protozoa are classified mainly by their mode of locomotion.
Fungi-like Protists (Slime moulds and Water moulds)
These organisms are referred to as slime moulds (2 groups) or water moulds (1 group). They
prefer cool, shady, moist places usually under fallen leaves or rotting logs. These organisms are
heterotrophs.
Helpful and Harmful Protista
In addition to providing food and oxygen, protists also live in our digestive tracts to aid in the
digestion process.
Some of the world’s most serious diseases are caused by protists:
Plasmodium vivax (malaria)
Giardia intestinalis (found in untreated drinking water)
Trypanosoma (African sleeping sickness)
Life Cycle of the Plasmodium vivax
Most widespread
human parasite
Causes malaria in
humans
Can be treated with
drugs
Kingdom Fungi Fungi DO NOT photosynthesize. Fungi are heterotrophs (saprotrophs) that feed by releasing digesting
enzymes into their surroundings, then absorbing the nutrients into their cells; this is called external
digestion.
Fungi are composed of eukaryotic cells that may be unicellular (yeasts), but the majority are
multicellular (moulds and mushrooms). Fungal cells have cell walls composed of chitin. Fungi can
reproduce sexually and asexually but will always produce spores. Spores are typically haploid (contain
half the amount of genetic information) and in multicellular fungi are produced in sporangia. If a spore
germinates, it produces hyphae, which are a network of fine filaments. Hyphae are the main part of
fungi and are found under the ground; a group of hyphae are referred to as a mycelium.
Fungi can be harmful and cause disease in humans (athlete’s foot), plants and animals. Fungi are also
very important to ecosystems because of their role as decomposers. Fungi form many symbiotic
relationships:
a) Plant Roots (form myccorhizae)
The fungal hyphae help the plant absorb nutrients – increase the surface area
The plant shares its carbohydrates and amino acids
b) Cyanobacteria or Green Algae (form lichens)
Fungal mycelia provide structural support and carbon dioxide and water to the autotrophic
partner
The autotrophic partner shares carbohydrates
Fungi Reproduction
Fungi reproduce asexually. When a piece of hyphae is broken off it will grow into a new mycelia. This is
referred to as fragmentation.
Spores are the main means for reproduction employed by fungi. The spores that are produced by fungi
may be asexual (produced by mitosis) or sexual (produced by meiosis). Spores have a protective outer
coating that prevents them from drying out. Fungi will produces spores in the trillions, which like seeds
can spread by wind, water or on the bodies of animals. If a spore finds a suitable environment it can
grow into a new organism.
Classifying Fungi
1. Zygospore Fungi (Zygomycotes)
This group includes bread moulds. During sexual reproduction they form zygospores after the mating of
two opposite strains of hyphae (mating strains + and -). Some of these fungi produce two kinds of
hyphae, stolons (horizontal) and rhizoids (downward) that anchor and secrete digestive enzymes.
During asexual reproduction sporangiophores project above the mycelium to release spores from
sporangium.
2. Club Fungi (Basidiomycotes)
This group includes the mushrooms that grow on lawns. These have short lived reproductive structures
called basidiocarps (fruiting bodies) that form basidiospores on a structure called basidia. The largest
part of the club fungus is a vast,
sprawling network of hyphae that spread
underground.
3. Sac Fungi (Ascomycotes)
This is the largest group of fungi and
includes mildew and single-celled yeasts.
Sac fungi form small finger-like sacs
called asci during sexual reproduction.
Spores are produced directly at the tip
of modified hyphae.
4. Imperfect Fungi (Deuteromycotes)
Do not appear to have a sexual phase. They develop asexually from spores called conidia.
Many of these fungi produce antibiotics (penicillin and cyclosporin) or are used in the production of
foods (soy sauce and cheese).
Kingdom Plantae
Plants are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms. Plants are
autotrophs, meaning that they produce their own food through
the process of photosynthesis.
Plants have a life cycle in which they alternate between two
forms (called alternation of generations):
i) Haploid form
Called a gametophyte (produces gametes)
ii) Diploid form
Called a sporophyte (result of the union of two gametes)
Major Divisions
Non-Vascular Plants
(bryophytes)
e.g. mosses
Seedless Plants
(pteridophytes)
e.g. ferns
"Naked Seeds"
(gymnosperms)
e.g. conifers
Monocots
e.g. corn
Dicots
e.g. beans
"Enclosed Seeds"
(angiosperms)
e.g. trees, shrubs, flowers
Plants with Seeds
(spermatophytes)
Vascular Plants
(tracheophytes)
Plant Kingdom
Vascular and Non-vascular Plants
Most plants consist of roots, stems and leaves:
- Roots penetrate the soil to anchor the plant and to reach sources of water
- Leaves provide a greater surface area to carry out photosynthesis
- Stems supply rigid tissues that raise and support the leaves
In order for roots, leaves and stems to grow they need a regular supply of water, and
nutrients
These tasks are carried out by vascular tissue - vascular tissue are made up of cells that
conduct solutions throughout the plant (similar to a circulatory system)
There are two main types of vascular tissue:
Xylem - conducts water and dissolved minerals
Phloem - conducts sugars produced by the leaves
Evolution of vascular tissue has allowed plants to
increase in size
Non-vascular Plants (Mosses and their Relatives)
There are three divisions of Mosses:
1. Mosses (Bryophytes)
- Lack vascular tissue and do not have well-developed roots
- Thrive in diverse habitats such as bogs, tundra, exposed rocks and deep shade
2. Liverworts (Hepatophytes)
- Grow flat and close to the ground
- Rarely more than 30 cells thick
3. Hornworts (Anthocerophytes)
- Gametophytes are broad flat and usually less than 2 cm in diameter
- Have a blue-green colour
Seedless Vascular Plants (Ferns and their Relatives)
Developed vascular tissue that
allowed them to grow tall
Sporophyte generation is the
dominant stage
Gametophyte generation are
tiny, short-lived and depended
on moisture to carry out
sexual reproduction
(prothallus)
Vascular Plants (disperse by
seeds)
Seeds allow a plant to
reproduce sexually without
needing water
Seeds also provide protection
against harsh environmental
conditions
There are two groups of seeds:
1. Gymnosperms "naked seeds"
These are cone-bearing plants
with most possessing needles.
There are both male and female cones.
Generalized life cycle of a gymnosperm:
In male cones, microspore mother cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid pollen grains, the
male gametophytes.
Female cones have ovules in which a megaspore mother cell undergoes meiosis to produces
only one megaspore, or female gametophyte.
Pollen gets trapped on sticky sap secreted by the female cone.
After fertilization, the diploid zygote develops into an embryo, which remains in the ripened
ovule, now called a seed.
Mature "naked" seeds fall out of the female cones.
It may be several years before the seedling grows into a mature plant to produce its own
cones.
2. Angiosperms
Flowering plants that protect their seeds within a fruit. Monocots have one cotyledon (seed
leaf) and dicots have two cotyledons.
Generalized life cycle of an angiosperm:
Within the anther chambers, microspore mother cells undergo meiosis to produce haploid
pollen grains, or male gametophyte.
Within the ovule, a megaspore mother cell undergoes meiosis to produce only one megaspore,
or female gametophyte.
Pollination is aided by wind, insects, birds, and bats.
Pollen gets trapped by the sticky substance on the stigma.
Self-pollination involves one plant only; cross-pollination involves two separate plants.
After fertilization, the diploid zygote grows into an embryo, which remains in the ripened
ovule, now called a seed.
As the seeds develop, the ovary and other parts develop into the fruit enclosing the seeds.
The Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant
Kingdom Animalia
Animals are eukaryotic, multicellular heterotrophs that reproduce sexually and are usually
capable of movement at some stage of their lives.
This complex kingdom is divided into two broad groups:
1. Invertebrates (majority of animals) Do not have a backbone. Examples: leeches, clams, insects
2. Vertebrates
Have a notochord (a rod shape structure that extends the length of the body; often
replace by the spine)
Examples: fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals
The following are major characteristics used to classify animals:
1. Body organization Organized of tissues into organs, organ systems etc…
2. Body Layers Three different types:
i) Ectoderm (outer e.g. skin, nervous system)
ii) Endoderm (inner e.g. lining of body cavity)
iii) Mesoderm (middle layer e.g. circulatory system)
3. Body Symmetry i) Assymetrical
ii) Radial
iii) Bilateral
4. Digestive tract or gut
i) One opening – Example: Hydra
ii) Two openings - Example: Earthworm
5. Coelom Fluid filled body cavity
Allows for the development of
more complex organ systems
A Quick look at Animals
The First Animals
Sponges (Porifera) Live permanently attached to one surface
Cells are organized in a simple fashion
Single opening
No tissue no organs and only two layers of cells
Jellyfish, Corals and Anemones (Cnidaria) Two cell layers and a single opening
Simple nervous system and muscle tissue
Allows then to swim and capture prey
Use digestive enzymes for external digestion
No special excretory or respiratory systems
Flatworms (Platyhelminthes) Parasitic tapeworms and flukes as well as free living
planarians
Digestive system is a closed pouch with one opening
Lack circulatory system but have a simple excretory
system
Simple nervous system and a brain like concentration of
nerve cells at the head
No coelom
Segmented Worms (Annelida) Earthworms and leeches
Body is divided into ringed segments that
contain similar sets of organs for excretion,
circulation and nerve control
Other specialized organ systems including
digestive, and reproductive
Open digestive system; two openings
Contain a coelom
Squid, Clams, Snails (Mollusca) Soft Body, hard shell (for many of the organisms)
Three cell layers
Open digestive system; two openings
Contain a coelom
3 different classes include the Bivalves, Gastropods and Cephalopods
Second most diverse group but all have a similar body plan including a mantle which
surrounds internal organs and secretes calcium carbonate for the shell as well as a
muscular foot for movement
Contain specialized organ systems including digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory,
reproductive and nervous
Starfish (Echinodermata) All are marine
Include starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sand dollars
Adults are radially symmetrical, larvae are bilateral
Contain a coelom
Open digestive system; two openings
Contain specialized organ systems including water vascular, digestive, respiratory,
circulatory, nervous, reproductive etc..
Joint-Legged Animals (Arthropoda) Arthropods resemble annelids in basic structure
Annelids are very similar to larval stages of insects
Open digestive system; two openings
Contain a coelom
As arthropods evolved they developed several distinct differences from annelids. Such as:
Fewer body segments
Hard external cuticle which acts as an exoskeleton
Legs divided into moveable segments connected by joints
Have separate muscles organized into groups related to specific movements of
body parts
Strongly developed jaws
Better developed nervous systems and sense organs
Other specialized organ systems including digestive, respiratory, circulatory and
reproductive
Chordates (Chordata) At some stage in their life history all chordates have: A dorsal nerve cord from which other nerves branch A notochord, or rod of cartilage, which runs along the dorsal length of the body
A notochord occurs only in the embryo
A backbone of cartilage or bone replaces the notochord
Gill slits in the pharynx, or throat (in terrestrial vertebrates the gill slits only appear in the
embryo)
Contain a coelom
Open digestive system; two openings
Contain specialized organ systems including digestive, respiratory, circulatory, nervous,
reproductive etc..