Classification
Species Concept:
Biological Species Model
- Appear similar
- Breed together
- Fertile offspring
What’s the problem with this model? Organisms can't always be observed
mating.
Other models:
- Morphological species concept: a group of organisms sharing similar
physical features that make them different from other species.
- Ecological species concept: a population of organisms living in the
same area at the same time
Binomial system: Genus + species
Hierarchical Classification
Taxonomy: is the study and classification of organisms in a series of
taxonomic units.
(taxa / taxon)
Taxonomic rank: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus
and Species.
Domain:
Bacteria, Archaea and Eukaryota
Bacteria Archaea Eukaryotes
No nucleus No nucleus Yes
DNA not associated DNA not associated Yes
with histone with histone Linear chromosome
DNA is circular DNA exist as circular
chromosome
No membrane bound No membrane bound Yes
organelles organelles
70S ribosomes 70S ribosomes 80S
Divide by binary Divide by binary Mitosis
fission fission
Exist as single cells Exist as single cells Multicellular and
(unicellular) (unicellular) Unicellular (fungi,
Paramecium, Amoeba)
Cell wall made of Cell wall not made of
peptidoglycan peptidoglycan
Kingdom:
Animal, Plant, fungi, protoctist (protist/protoctista)
Animal Plant Protoctist Fungi
Eukaryotes/ Eukaryotes/ Unicellular Multicellular
Multicellular Multicellular and or
multicellular Unicellular
(yeast)
Heterotrophs (do Autotrophs Some Heterotroph
not contain Do all plants resemble s
chloroplast) contain animal (decompose
chloroplasts? rs, living as
parasite on
living
organisms)
Small temporary Permanent vacuole Others Reproductio
vacuoles (food resemble n: spores
vacuole/lysosome) plants (they *Hyphae:
can long threads
photosynthesi *Mycelium:
se) all the
hyphae
together
Mushrooms
produce
large-
compacted
hyphae
known as
“fruiting
bodies”
release
spores
No Cell Wall Have cell wall Never
contain cilia
Nervous system No nervous system
and chemical Chemical signalling
signalling
Virus:
- Non living: particles
- 0.02-0.3 micrometer
- Obligate intracellular
- Invade and take control of host cell machinery (protein making
process)
Structure of Viruses
ALL viruses contain:
1. Protein coat / Capsid: simple repeating protein units (capsomeres)
- Why use capsomeres? To use little amount of genetic information to
code for the protein coat.
2. Nucleic acid DNA or RNADouble or Single stranded
3. VAPs: virus attachment proteins these are antigens that can
attach to the cells they infect
VAPs respond to specific
molecules on the host
cell viruses are specific
Some viruses contain:
1. A lipid envelope: produced from the host cell membrane cover
their genetic material and protein coat + makes it easier for viruses
to enter our cells.
- Note: since they contain a lipid envelope, they are vulnerable to
substances such as ether that will dissolve their lipid membrane
*** check virus life cycle: lysogenic and lytic pathway:
Classification of Viruses:
1. DNA virus: use viral DNA as a template to make new viral DNA and
make mRNA for viral proteins. E.g.: smallpox, adenovirus (colds),
bacteriophage, lambda phage
2. RNA virus: do not produce DNA in their life cycle, More likely to
mutate (research by yourself, why?)
Examples: TMV: tobacco mosaic virus, Ebola, polio, measles and influenza
3. Retrovirus: special type of RNA
- Contain reverse transcriptase enzyme: making DNA molecules
DNA is incorporated into host cell DNA used as a template to
make new viral protein new viral RNA
- Have a protein and lipid envelope
Example: HIV: human immunodeficiency virus
Ecosystems
Ecology: the study of living organism and their interations with living
(biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the environment
Ecosystem: a self-sustaining community of living organisms and their
interactions with the environment
Habitat: an area where a species stays
Microclimates leading to microhabitats
Population: a group of organism of the same species living in the same
habitat at the same time
Carrying capacity: the maximum healty size of population that the
ecosystem can support depends on what? biotic and abiotic
factors
Community: different populations living together in the same habitat at
the same time ( different populations interacting together in the same
area)
Niche: the role of an organism in the ecosystem
Biotic Factors:
1. Predation
2. Availability of mate
3. Diseases
4. Competition
5. Territory
Abiotic Factors:
1. Temperature
- Enzymes can be inactive or denatured if there large changes in
temperature (note: warm blooded organisms can maintain their
body temperature BUT cold blooded or plants more affected by
temperature changes.)
- Reproductive behaviors
2. Light: affect rate of photosynthesis
- Different plants will show different adaptations based on the amount
of light available. E.g.: larger leaves, taller plants, range of
wavelength of light absorbed increased…
- Animals: circadian rhythm
3. pH (enzymes)
4. water availability:
- humidity: affects the amount of transpiration in plants.
- Special adaptations in low water environment e.g.: cactus plant
spines instead of leaves, camel has water storage, xerophytes have
folded leaves…
5. Oxygen availability
6. Edaphic factors: related to the structure of the soil e.g.: compact
or loose soil, mineral content…
- Leeching: loose soil (or sand), rainwater or excessive watering
washes away nutrients and minerals from the soil into nearby rivers
or streams.
Eutrophication:
1. Washing of fertilizers or nutrients in bodies of water
2. Algal blood sunlight blocked
3. Death of aquatic plants at the bottom
4. Decomposers feed on dead plants increase in bacteria
population
5. Over consumption of oxygen from the water
6. Other aquatic animals e.g.: fish, do not receive enough
oxygen dead
7. Disturbance in the aquatic ecosystem.
