1.
Archaea
Characteristics: Archaea are single-celled organisms that are similar to bacteria in some
ways but are genetically and biochemically distinct. They often live in extreme
environments such as hot springs, deep-sea vents, and salt lakes, where conditions are
too harsh for most life forms.
Key Features:
o Cell walls: Made of unique compounds, not peptidoglycan (like in bacteria).
o Membrane lipids: Different from bacteria and eukaryotes, with ether linkages
instead of ester linkages.
o RNA and protein synthesis: More similar to eukaryotes.
Example Organisms: Halophiles (salt-loving organisms), Thermophiles (heat-loving
organisms).
2. Bacteria
Characteristics: Bacteria are single-celled organisms that are found in almost every
environment on Earth, from soil to water to the human body. They are simpler than
eukaryotes but are incredibly diverse in their metabolism and ecological roles.
Key Features:
o Cell walls: Most bacteria have cell walls made of peptidoglycan.
o Genetic Material: Bacteria have circular DNA (plasmids) and lack a membrane-
bound nucleus.
o Reproduction: Mainly reproduce by binary fission (asexual reproduction).
Example Organisms: Escherichia coli (a common bacterium in the human gut),
Streptococcus (causes strep throat).
3. Eukarya
Characteristics: Eukarya includes all organisms with eukaryotic cells, which have a
nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. This domain includes animals, plants,
fungi, and protists.
Key Features:
o Cell Structure: Eukaryotic cells have a defined nucleus containing their DNA, as
well as various organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts (in plants).
o Size and Complexity: Eukaryotes tend to be larger and more complex than
prokaryotes (archaea and bacteria).
o Reproduction: Eukaryotes can reproduce sexually (through meiosis and
fertilization) and asexually (through mitosis).
Example Organisms: Humans, Mushrooms, Oak trees, Amoeba.
Key Differences:
Cell Structure: Archaea and bacteria are prokaryotic (no nucleus), while eukaryotes are
eukaryotic (with a nucleus).
Genetic Material: Archaea and bacteria have circular DNA, while eukaryotes have linear
chromosomes.
Cell Membranes: Archaea have unique lipid structures in their cell membranes
compared to bacteria and eukaryotes.
1. Animals (Kingdom: Animalia)
Cell Type: Eukaryotic (cells with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles).
Cell Structure: Multicellular, no cell walls. Cells are specialized into tissues and organs.
Nutrition: Heterotrophic (consume other organisms for food). Can be herbivores,
carnivores, omnivores, etc.
Movement: Most animals can move at some point in their life cycle (either using
muscles or cilia/flagella).
Reproduction: Mostly sexual reproduction (with some exceptions of asexual
invertebrates like hydra or some types of parthenogenesis). Usually with complex
developmental stages.
Examples: Humans, lions, frogs, birds, insects, fish.
2. Plants (Kingdom: Plantae)
Cell Type: Eukaryotic.
Cell Structure: Multicellular, with cell walls made of cellulose. Contains chloroplasts for
photosynthesis.
Nutrition: Autotrophic (make their own food through photosynthesis, using sunlight,
water, and carbon dioxide).
Movement: Generally, non-motile (do not move from place to place, though parts of
plants like stems or leaves may exhibit growth movements, called tropisms).
Reproduction: Primarily sexual (through seeds, spores, or cones), though many plants
can also reproduce asexually (e.g., through runners, cloning).
Examples: Trees, flowers, mosses, ferns, grasses.
3. Fungi (Kingdom: Fungi)
Cell Type: Eukaryotic.
Cell Structure: Multicellular (except for yeasts which are unicellular). Cells have cell walls
made of chitin (not cellulose like plants).
Nutrition: Heterotrophic (absorb nutrients from other organisms, either as
decomposers, parasites, or symbionts). They break down organic material externally
before absorbing it.
Movement: Non-motile (do not move actively).
Reproduction: Can reproduce both sexually and asexually through spores. Some fungi
have complex life cycles.
Examples: Mushrooms, yeasts, molds, and mildew.
4. Protoctista (Kingdom: Protista)
Cell Type: Eukaryotic.
Cell Structure: Mostly unicellular (though some are multicellular), with varied structures.
Can be simple, like amoebas, or more complex, like algae.
Nutrition: Can be autotrophic (like algae, which perform photosynthesis), heterotrophic
(like protozoa, which ingest food), or a mix of both (mixotrophic).
Movement: Many can move, usually by flagella, cilia, or pseudopodia (extensions of
their cytoplasm).
Reproduction: Mainly asexual reproduction (binary fission), but some can reproduce
sexually.
Examples: Amoeba, paramecium, euglena, algae, slime molds, and seaweeds.
5. Prokaryotes (Kingdom: Monera; Domain: Bacteria & Archaea)
Cell Type: Prokaryotic (no nucleus, no membrane-bound organelles).
Cell Structure: Unicellular. The cell is simpler, with a single loop of DNA and sometimes
plasmids (small circular DNA molecules). Some have cell walls made of peptidoglycan (in
bacteria) or other compounds (in archaea).
Nutrition: Can be autotrophic (e.g., cyanobacteria that photosynthesize) or
heterotrophic (e.g., most bacteria that decompose organic matter or are pathogens).
Movement: Some are motile, using flagella or pili.
Reproduction: Asexual reproduction through binary fission (splitting into two identical
cells).
Examples: Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus (causes strep throat), Archaea (living in
extreme environments like hot springs and salt flats).
Key Differences Between These Groups:
Feature/Characteristic Animals Plants Fungi Protoctista Prokaryotes
Cell Type Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Prokaryotic
Multicellular Mostly
Cell Structure Multicellular Multicellular Unicellular
or unicellular unicellular
Autotrophic
Autotrophic or
Nutrition Heterotrophic Autotrophic Heterotrophic or
heterotrophic
heterotrophic
Yes
Yes Some (e.g.,
Cell Wall No Yes (chitin) (peptidoglycan or
(cellulose) algae)
other)
Movement Yes (in most) No No Yes (in some) Yes (in some)
Sexual & Sexual & Sexual & Mostly
Reproduction Asexual
Asexual Asexual Asexual Asexual
Trees, Amoeba,
Humans, Mushrooms, E. coli,
Examples grasses, paramecium,
lions, birds yeast cyanobacteria
flowers algae
In short:
Animals are complex, multicellular organisms that consume other organisms for energy.
Plants are multicellular, primarily autotrophic organisms that create their own food via
photosynthesis.
Fungi absorb nutrients from decaying matter or other organisms, have chitin in their cell
walls, and reproduce with spores.
Protoctista are a diverse group of eukaryotic organisms, mostly unicellular, with a mix of
nutrition strategies.
Prokaryotes are the simplest, unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus and can be either
bacteria or archaea.
1. What is the main feature of birds?
a) They are cold-blooded
b) They have feathers
c) They lay eggs with soft shells
d) They are unicellular
2. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of birds?
a) They have beaks
b) They have warm blood
c) They lay eggs with hard shells
d) They are mammals
3. Mammals are characterized by:
a) They lay eggs
b) They are cold-blooded
c) They have hair and produce milk
d) They have feathers
4. Which of these is NOT a characteristic of mammals?
a) They have a placenta
b) Their young feed on milk from mammary glands
c) They have cold blood
d) They have different types of teeth
5. Arachnids have how many pairs of legs?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8
6. Arachnids breathe through:
a) Lungs
b) Gills
c) Spiracles
d) Gills or tracheae
7. An example of arachnids is:
a) Centipedes
b) Spiders
c) Snakes
d) Worms
8. Myriapods are characterized by:
a) A body made of segments
b) Two pairs of legs per segment
c) A soft body
d) Only 6 legs
9. Myriapods typically have:
a) One pair of legs per segment
b) Three pairs of legs
c) Five pairs of legs
d) Multiple pairs of legs per segment
10. An example of myriapods is:
a) Spiders
b) Centipedes
c) Insects
d) Fish
11. Algae are:
a) Multicellular organisms
b) Mostly unicellular organisms
c) Always heterotrophic
d) Non-photosynthetic
12. Algae contain:
a) Chloroplasts for photosynthesis
b) Nucleus only
c) No cell walls
d) Mitochondria only
13. The following is NOT a characteristic of algae:
a) They are photosynthetic
b) They are always multicellular
c) They can be unicellular
d) They contain chloroplasts
14. Algae can be found as:
a) Unicellular (e.g., Chlorella)
b) Multicellular (e.g., seaweeds)
c) Both unicellular and multicellular
d) None of the above
15. Protoctista includes:
a) Plants
b) Animals
c) Algae and Protozoa
d) Fungi
16. Protoctista can be:
a) Multicellular
b) Unicellular
c) Both multicellular and unicellular
d) Always multicellular
17. The Protoctista group includes organisms that:
a) Do not have a nucleus
b) May have a nucleus but lack a cell wall
c) Are always multicellular
d) Are always autotrophic
18. Prokaryotes are characterized by:
a) A defined nucleus
b) Circular chromosomes
c) A cell wall made of cellulose
d) Membrane-bound organelles
19. Prokaryotes are typically:
a) Unicellular
b) Multicellular
c) Always autotrophic
d) Always heterotrophic
20. Prokaryotes do not have:
a) A nucleus
b) A cell wall
c) A cell membrane
d) A circular chromosome
21. Fungi are primarily:
a) Unicellular
b) Autotrophic
c) Heterotrophic
d) Photosynthetic
22. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of fungi?
a) They have a nucleus
b) They have a cell wall made of cellulose
c) They are mostly multicellular
d) They absorb nutrients from decaying matter
23. Fungi reproduce using:
a) Seeds
b) Spores
c) Budding
d) Fragmentation
24. Fungi are typically:
a) Multicellular like mushrooms
b) Unicellular like yeast
c) Both multicellular and unicellular
d) Always autotrophic
25. Protoctista organisms can:
a) Only be unicellular
b) Be unicellular or multicellular
c) Lack a nucleus
d) Always be photosynthetic
26. Fungi can absorb nutrients from:
a) Living organisms only
b) Decaying organic material
c) Photosynthesis
d) Symbiosis only
27. Prokaryotes have:
a) A membrane-bound nucleus
b) Circular DNA (plasmids)
c) A cell wall made of cellulose
d) Chloroplasts for photosynthesis
28. Mammals have:
a) A placenta for embryonic development
b) An exoskeleton
c) Gills for breathing
d) No hair or fur
29. Myriapods consist of:
a) A body with segments
b) Only one pair of legs per segment
c) A soft exoskeleton
d) Only three pairs of legs
30. Algae can be classified as:
a) Only multicellular
b) Only unicellular
c) Both unicellular and multicellular
d) Always heterotrophic
31. Birds typically have:
a) A warm-blooded metabolism
b) Cold-blooded metabolism
c) Hair or fur
d) A mouth instead of a beak
1. Animals (Kingdom Animalia)
1. Multicellular, eukaryotic organisms.
2. Heterotrophic — obtain food by consuming other organisms.
3. Lack cell walls (unlike plants/fungi).
4. Most show specialized tissues and organs.
5. Usually capable of movement at some stage of life.
6. Reproduce sexually (some also reproduce asexually).
7. Nervous and muscular systems present in most.
8. Complex life cycles with embryonic development.
2. Plants (Kingdom Plantae)
1. Multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic organisms.
2. Cell walls made of cellulose.
3. Contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis.
4. Store food mainly as starch.
5. Show alternation of generations in life cycle.
6. Non-motile (except for some reproductive cells).
7. Specialized tissues for transport (xylem and phloem in vascular plants).
3. Fungi (Kingdom Fungi)
1. Mostly multicellular (except yeasts).
2. Eukaryotic and heterotrophic (absorb nutrients).
3. Cell walls made of chitin.
4. Reproduce via spores (sexual and asexual).
5. Body composed of thread-like hyphae forming a mycelium.
6. Decomposers, parasites, or mutualists.
7. Lack chlorophyll; cannot photosynthesize.
4. Insects (Class Insecta)
1. Belong to phylum Arthropoda.
2. Body divided into three segments: head, thorax, abdomen.
3. Three pairs of jointed legs (six legs total).
4. One pair of antennae.
5. Most have one or two pairs of wings.
6. Exoskeleton made of chitin.
7. Undergo metamorphosis (complete or incomplete).
5. Crustaceans (Subphylum Crustacea)
1. Mostly aquatic arthropods (e.g., crabs, lobsters, shrimp).
2. Hard exoskeleton of chitin and calcium carbonate.
3. Body usually divided into cephalothorax and abdomen.
4. Two pairs of antennae.
5. Five or more pairs of legs.
6. Breathe through gills.
7. Most are omnivorous scavengers.
6. Arachnids (Class Arachnida)
1. Arthropods with two body parts: cephalothorax and abdomen.
2. Four pairs of legs (eight legs total).
3. No antennae or wings.
4. Simple eyes (usually multiple).
5. Mostly carnivorous.
6. Breathe using book lungs or tracheae.
7. Include spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites.
7. Myriapods (Subphylum Myriapoda)
1. Arthropods with elongated segmented bodies.
2. Many pairs of legs (one or two pairs per segment).
3. One pair of antennae.
4. Simple eyes.
5. Breathe via tracheal system.
6. Centipedes (carnivorous) vs millipedes (herbivorous).
7. Exoskeleton of chitin.
8. Algae
1. Simple, mostly aquatic, photosynthetic organisms.
2. Can be unicellular or multicellular.
3. Lack true roots, stems, and leaves.
4. Contain chlorophyll and other pigments.
5. Cell walls often made of cellulose.
6. Can reproduce sexually and asexually.
7. Produce oxygen through photosynthesis.
9. Fish (Class Pisces)
1. Aquatic vertebrates.
2. Breathe through gills.
3. Fins for movement and balance.
4. Scales covering skin in most species.
5. Cold-blooded (ectothermic).
6. Lay eggs (mostly external fertilization).
7. Streamlined bodies for swimming.
10. Amphibians (Class Amphibia)
1. Vertebrates that live both in water and on land.
2. Moist, permeable skin (for gas exchange).
3. Undergo metamorphosis (tadpole → adult).
4. Cold-blooded.
5. Lay eggs in water (jelly-like covering).
6. Breathe via gills (larva) and lungs/skin (adults).
7. Include frogs, salamanders, caecilians.
11. Reptiles (Class Reptilia)
1. Vertebrates with dry, scaly skin.
2. Lay amniotic eggs with leathery shells.
3. Cold-blooded.
4. Breathe with lungs throughout life.
5. Most have three-chambered hearts (crocodiles have four).
6. Internal fertilization.
7. Include snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles.
12. Birds (Class Aves)
1. Warm-blooded vertebrates.
2. Body covered with feathers.
3. Forelimbs modified into wings.
4. Beaks without teeth.
5. Lay hard-shelled eggs.
6. High metabolic rate and four-chambered heart.
7. Hollow bones for flight.
13. Mammals (Class Mammalia)
1. Warm-blooded vertebrates.
2. Have hair or fur.
3. Females produce milk via mammary glands.
4. Give birth to live young (most species).
5. Four-chambered heart.
6. Highly developed brains.
7. Internal fertilization.
14. Angiosperms (Flowering Plants)
1. Produce flowers for reproduction.
2. Seeds enclosed within fruits.
3. Have true roots, stems, and leaves.
4. Vascular tissue (xylem, phloem) present.
5. Show double fertilization.
6. Wide variety of forms and habitats.
7. Can be monocots or dicots.
15. Gymnosperms
1. Seed-producing plants without flowers.
2. Seeds exposed (not enclosed in fruits).
3. Mostly evergreen with needle-like leaves.
4. Vascular tissue present.
5. Cones for reproduction.
6. Mostly wind-pollinated.
7. Examples: pines, spruces, firs.
16. Ferns (Division Pteridophyta)
1. Seedless vascular plants.
2. Reproduce via spores.
3. True roots, stems, and leaves (fronds).
4. Leaves often coiled when young (fiddleheads).
5. Require water for fertilization.
6. Alternation of generations (sporophyte dominant).
7. Found mostly in moist, shaded environments.
17. Mosses (Division Bryophyta)
1. Small, non-vascular plants.
2. No true roots — have rhizoids.
3. Reproduce via spores.
4. Require water for fertilization.
5. Gametophyte is the dominant stage.
6. Found in moist, shaded areas.
7. Lack flowers and seeds.
18. Monocots (Subclass Monocotyledonae)
1. One cotyledon in seed.
2. Parallel leaf venation.
3. Fibrous root system.
4. Floral parts usually in multiples of three.
5. Scattered vascular bundles in stem.
6. Examples: grasses, lilies, orchids.
7. Herbaceous or woody forms rare.
19. Dicots (Subclass Dicotyledonae)
1. Two cotyledons in seed.
2. Net-like (reticulate) leaf venation.
3. Taproot system.
4. Floral parts usually in multiples of four or five.
5. Vascular bundles arranged in a ring.
6. Can be herbaceous or woody.
7. Examples: roses, sunflowers, beans.
