How are organisms classified?

There are different types of organisms. Scientists divide organisms into the different Kingdoms (Animals, Plants, Fungus, Protists, Bacteria, and Archaebacteria), and get more specific as it goes down into Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and most specific, Species.

 

What are Animals?

Animals are multicellular. They don’t make their own food. Their cell does not have a cell wall. Many are capable of movement but some like the sponge don’t move.

What are Plants?

Plants are divided into vascular and nonvascular.

Vascular plants have tubes that carry sugars all around the plant. Nonvascular plants do not have tubes and have other methods to carry sugars to the whole plant.

What are Fungi?

Fungi have a cell wall in their cell. They are both unicellular and multicellular. They can’t move or make their own food, so they grow on other organisms and gets food from the organism. They are decomposers, which means they break down dead or decaying plants and Animals. Some cause disease, while some, like the mushroom that we eat, can be helpful.

 

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are unicellular, but their cell has no nucleus or organelles.

Bacteria are organized into true bacteria and ancient bacteria.

You can see true bacteria everywhere. Many cause diseases.

Ancient bacteria live in extreme environments like hot springs or salty water. Many cause disease, and many are helpful. Ancient bacteria have been around for many years.

 

What are Protists?

Protists can be unicellular or multicellular. Protists act like other organisms.

Animal-like protists are multicellular and eat other organisms for food.

Plant-like protists like algae are multicellular and make their own food.

Fungi-like protists are decomposors and unicellular organisms.

 

What are Viruses?

Viruses are not a kingdom. They can be living or nonliving, but all viruses carry out life processes. They cause diseases.