7.5 All organisms can be divided into five kingdoms 7.6 Animals that have no skeleton

7.5

All organisms can be divided into five kingdoms

In this topic, you will learn that:

• taxonomists are scientists that classify living things • new information that compares genetic material may change the five kingdoms • the nature of science is to change and develop as new evidence becomes available.

Interactive 7.5 Kingdoms

multicellular consisting of two or more cells

unicellular consisting of only one cell; an example is bacteria

taxonomist a scientist who classifi es living things into groups

nucleus a membrane-bound structure in cells that contains most of the cell's genetic material

cell wall a structure that provides support around the cell in some organisms, such as plants and fungi

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Building blocks of life

Cells are often called the building blocks of life. Think of the way bricks are used to build a house. Cells build living things in a similar way. However, there are usually many more cells in living things than bricks in a house. Any living thing with more than one cell is multicellular . Many living things, such as bacteria, consist of only one cell. These are single-celled or unicellular organisms.

Parts of a cell

Taxonomists ask three questions when they are trying to classify the cells of an organism:

1 Does the cell keep all of its genetic material (called DNA) inside a nucleus ? The nucleus protects the DNA that carries all the instructions for living and reproducing.

2 Does the cell have a cell wall around it for extra support?

3 Does the cell use sunlight to make its own nutrients (autotroph)? Plant cells can do this, but fungi (like mushrooms) need to absorb their nutrients from other living things (heterotrophs). These three features are used to divide all living things into the fi rst big group called kingdoms.

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Figure 1 a Simple animal; b, plant; and bacterial cells

Kingdom Animalia

All organisms in this kingdom are multicellular. Each cell stores its genetic material in a nucleus but does not have a cell wall. Animals gain energy from other living things. We belong in this kingdom. Zoologists are the scientists who study animals.

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Figure 2 Kingdom Animalia: a the proboscis monkey ( Nasalis larvatus ); b the Port Jackson shark ( Heterodontus portusjacksoni ); and c the damselfly ( Calopteryx virgo )

Kingdom Plantae

Plants include trees, vines, bushes, ferns, mosses, weeds and grasses. They all gain energy by converting the energy from sunlight into food (autotrophs). They are multicellular and their cells have a cell wall around the outside of the cell, as well as a nucleus inside the cell. Botanists are the scientists who study the plant kingdom.

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom Fungi includes mushrooms, toadstools, yeasts, puffballs, moulds and truffles. Some fungi grow in wood and soil, and develop from tiny spores. Fungi store their genetic material in a nucleus and do not make their own food. Instead, they feed on the remains of dead animals and plants. Some fungi can cause diseases, such as tinea (athlete’s foot). Mycologists are the scientists who study Kingdom Fungi.

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Figure 3 Kingdom Plantae: a The smelliest plant, the Rafflesia, is found in South-East Asia (its flower can measure up to 90 cm across and weigh about 11 kg, and it gives off a rotten meat odour when it blossoms to attract insects); b wheat; c cactus

7.5 Check your learning

Remember and understand

1 Identify where a plant cell stores its genetic material (DNA). 2 Name four features of Kingdom Fungi. 3 Define the term ‘multicellular’.

4 Name an organism made up of just one cell.

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Figure 4 Kingdom Fungi: a mushrooms; b mould

Kingdom Monera

Kingdom Monera is made up of the simplest and smallest living things. There are approximately 75 000 different organisms in Kingdom Monera, and they are all unicellular and have a cell wall but no nucleus. Bacteria are the most common in this kingdom. Many people think of bacteria as harmful to humans, but this is not always true. Bacteria in the soil break down rubbish and wastes produced by animals (especially humans). Without bacteria, we would be surrounded by mountains of smelly rubbish. Bacteria have been put to use by humans to make food, such as cheese and yoghurt. Microbiologists are the scientists who study micro-organisms in Kingdoms Monera and Protista.

Kingdom Protista

There are approximately 55 000 species of protists. Their cell structure is more complex than that of the Monera. Often, organisms that do not fit into any other kingdom will belong in Protista. Protists may range in size from singlecelled organisms to much larger ones, such as kelp (seaweed). They all have one feature in common: they store their genetic material in a nucleus. Plankton, the tiny sea creatures eaten in their millions by whales, are part of this kingdom. Amoeba, microscopic organisms that change their shape to trap their food, also belong to this group.

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Apply and analyse

5 Contrast a protist with a bacterium. 6 Compare the cells in Kingdom Plantae with those in Kingdom Fungi.

Evaluate and create

7 Explain why the invention of the microscope was important to our understanding of living things.

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Figure 5 Kingdom Monera, as seen under a microscope: a Lactobacillus casei; b Spirillum volutans

bacteria unicellular organisms that have a cell wall but no nucleus

plankton microscopic organisms that float in fresh or salt water

amoeba a type of single-celled organism belonging to the Protista kingdom

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Figure 6 Kingdom Protista, as seen under a microscope: a amoeba; b Giardia lamblia