Download Science Background Living Systems: Cells and the Five Kingdoms

Science Background
Living Systems: Cells and the Five
Kingdoms of Organisms
Scientists divide living things (organisms) into 5 kingdoms. Each
kingdom is based on characteristics. Check out the handy chart
below…
The Five Kingdoms of Organisms
Animals
Not just dogs
and cats, but
anything that
can move
around on its
own and eats
food is an
animal.
Examples:
Fish, snakes,
goats, people,
starfish, insects,
birds, crabs
Plants
Plants are
organisms that
make their own
food using a
process called
photosynthesis.
Unlike animals,
plants can’t
move from
place to place
on their own.
Examples:
Trees, grass,
corn, moss
Fungi
Fungi are
similar to
plants, but they
can’t produce
their own food.
They eat
materials to
which they are
attached.
Examples:
Mold,
mushrooms
Protista
Protists are
very tiny
organisms
made up of a
small number
of cells. They
can have
characteristics
similar to plants
or animals.
Examples:
Monera
Monera are
one-celled
organisms.
They can also
have similar
characteristics
to plants or
animals.
Examples:
More Groups!
Within each kingdom, organisms are divided into smaller groups. Animals are classified
as vertebrates if they have a backbone (dogs, fish, people, snakes) and invertebrates if
they don’t (snails, insects, worms, crabs). Plants are classified as vascular if they suck up
water through roots and pump it through a stem (beans, grass, trees), and nonvascular if
they simply absorb water through the air (moss).
What are Cells?
All living things are made of cells, or in the case of monera, one cell. Here are the basics:
¸ A cell is a microscopic, living structure.
¸ Even though they are very tiny, cells have identifiable parts and we can observe
them with microscopes.
¸ Cells come in different sizes and shapes and behave in different ways.
There are major differences between animal cells and plant cells, as you’ll see on the next
page. Go ahead! Read on!
Here are Some Exciting and Beautiful Cell Diagrams!
The Animal Cell
Cell membrane-protects the
cell, lets in food and lets out
waste.
Mitochondrion-converts food
to energy.
Nucleus-the “brain” of the cell.
It directs the cell’s activity and
reproduction. A cell’s genetic
information is found here.
Cytoplasm-a liquid that fills the
cell.
The Plant Cell
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Cell Wall –Instead of a cell membrane, a
plant cell has a cell wall. It functions like
a cell membrane.
Chloroplast-This is another difference
between plant and animal cells. The
chloroplast is the part of a plant cell in
which chlorophyll is created in the
process of photosynthesis.
Vacuole- Another special plant cell
structure, the vacuole store waste.