Download The Organization of Life on Planet Earth

-1-
Exercise I
The Organization of Life
The Organization of Life on Planet Earth
The separation of living organisms of the Planet Earth into groups is based on
characteristics which vary greatly. Distinctive features of organisms are identified and
are used to place an organism into their domain and kingdom.
◊ The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize you with the major categories
of life on Earth as they are currently organized. When you have completed
this exercise you should be able to determine to which Domain and Kingdom
an organism belongs.
The Domain is a relatively new classification which separates Bacteria, Archaea, and
Eukarya. Within the three domains are six Kingdoms, Bacteria, Archaea, Protista,
Plantae, Fungi, and our Kingdom Animalia.
The Six Kingdoms of Life on Planet Earth
I.
Bacteria (bacteria and blue green algae) – Unicellular; Lack Nuclei and Nuclear Membrane;
Have Cell Walls; some are Autotrophs; some are Heterotrophs; Found Everywhere on Earth
II.
Archaea – Unicellular; Lack Nuclei and Nuclear Membrane; Have Cell Walls; some are
Autotrophs; some are Heterotrophs; Found in Extreme Environments; first discovered in 1977;
Once called “Archaea Bacteria”
III.
Protista – Most Unicellular; Cells with Nuclei and Nuclear Membrane: some have Cell Walls;
some are Autotrophs; some are Heterotrophs
IV.
Plantae – Multicellular; Cells with Nuclear Membrane-bounded Organelles; Cell Walls of
Cellulose; Autotrophs (usually); Complex Organ Systems
V.
Fungi – Most Multicellular; Cells with Nuclei and Membrane-bounded
Walls of Chitin; Hetrotrophs (by absorption); Tissues
VI.
Animalia – Multicellular; Cells with Nuclei and Membrane-bounded Organelles; no Cell
Walls; Hetrotrophs (by ingestion); Complex Organ Systems
Organelles; Cell
Laboratory Activity: Classify the Organism
Can you identify the Domain and Kingdom to which each of the following
organisms belong?
Materials:
Specimens of life, Notebooks, Lab Guide
Procedure:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Review the material above and the notes from your instructor.
Examine the representative organisms found in stations around the
laboratory.
Complete the checklist on the next page.
Name the Domain and Kingdom for each organism shown in the
laboratory.
-2-
1.
Staphylococcus
Bacteria
2.
Fern
3.
Mushroom
4.
Insect
5.
Paramecium
6.
Frog
7.
Muskrat
8.
Worm
9.
Spirogyra
10.
Flower
11.
Homo sapiens
12.
Intestinal Bacteria
13.
Pine tree
14.
Yeast
15.
Moss
(Does it eat other
organisms?)
Heterotrophy
Autotrophy?
(is it green? Does it get
energy from the sun?)
Nuclear
Membrane?
Chlorophyll?
(is it green?)
Multi-Celled?
Organism
Single Celled?
Exercise I
The Organization of Life
Domain?
Kingdom?