Life

Classification

Classification: "is the action or process of classifying something according to shared qualities of characteristics."

Classification helps us classify all the different organisms in nature.

Categories

We use certain characteristics through classifying and start putting them into different groups.

We can categorize characteristics these include (colour, size, what kind of organism it is like a plant, fungi, or animal, if it is a mammal, reptile, amphibian and a lot more).

We classify because it makes it easier to identify, determine and do research of our planet. We are lucky to have a very unique amount species in our planet, that so far we have never seen on other planets. We use classification to organize our organisms to make it easier on everybody.

Characteristics

We can use certain Characteristics to categorize organisms to help us narrow an organism down to what it is and its species.

CRAAP

CRAAP is a test we use to determine whether information and/or research we have is reliable and/or credible.

Currency

Currency is when was the information posted, if it has been edited, and if the topic requires current or old information. We use this to determine whether the information is current or older. Research and information that is older is not as credible or reliable because the world is constantly evolving and we are learning/building on things that make old news and research not credible.

Relevance

Relevance is used to describe whether this will help you. Does it suit the proper audience, does it relate to your topic, is it at the appropriate level for you, have you looked at other sources before this one and would you cite this in a paper. These are all important because at the end of the day when doing research you need to look for relevance. Is it relevant to what you are trying to learn and discover.

Authority

Authority is looking at who made this information and if they are qualified and have enough experience to post reliable information. Reputation is important because you do not want to learn about something that is wrong or might not even exist. You want the right and newest information along with the most qualified and smartest people publishing it. This also looks at the owner itself. If they work for a company, a website that might specialize in an area that you are researching, etc.

Accuracy

Accuracy is related to authority in a way that it looks at where the information comes from and if that source is accurate. It looks at if the way it is written and if that hints that someone has a bias. If there is a bias it takes away all reliability from the information because you are reading more of an opinion piece than an actual research piece. Also, it looks at any obvious errors that would take away from its credibility.

Purpose

The purpose part of CRAAP is to look out the purpose of why this information. The purpose is important as if it was influence the people to think/feel about a certain topic it is unreliable. If it also used for propaganda that is unreliable as it is fake news. There are many other examples as well. The main point of the purpose is to look at why this was released and what the owner's intentions were.

Taxonomy

Tree of Life

This is another way to show taxonomy. It demonstrates how ancestry and other forms of that certain species branch of into other species. It visually demonstrates how species can be related.

Ancestry

Ancestry is important in Taxonomy. It helps us provide more information on how organisms are related. Taxonomic levels are ranks are determined by shared characteristics. This is telling us that the more levels organisms share the more they are related.

What is Taxonomy?

Taxonomy refers to the naming system we have for animals. The same species could have different names in other parts of the world. With taxonomy, it is a name system so no matter where you are from the world people understand the species you are mentioning.

Taxonomy work with a hierarchy system. Which is called a taxon. We use it to name and classify organisms. In modern day, biologists use 8 taxa to describe and classify organisms. These become more specific as you move from domain to species.

It was invented by Carl Linnaeus. He created a naming system in which it focused on the organism itself. He used morphological attributes to create a naming convention that is the foundation of the system we use today.

Photosynthesis

A process of taking carbon dioxide and water out of the atmosphere and taking that and producing glucose and oxygen. It is done by plants and is an essential process that keeps ecosystems and the whole planet living.

Plants need CO2 to survive and it produces the main nutrients that keeps them thriving in an ecosystem.

Produced from sunlight

Monocot vs. Dicot

Monocot and Dicot are the two groups from the division of angiosperms.

Monocot Plants: Are single cotyledon, lang narrow leaf with parallel veins, scattered vascular bundles, floral parts in multiples of 3

Dicot Plants: Two cotyledons, broad leaf with network of veins, vascular bundles are in a ring, floral parts in multiples of 4 or 5.

Gas Exchange

Plant Gas Exchange

This is from photosynthesis and the opening and closing of the stomata in leaves. It is essential for the survival of all life on Earth.

Many different organs and tissues work together in plants to make gas exchange possible and sustain human life.

Animal Gas Exchange

Animals have a process called cellular respiration which is the opposite of photosynthesis. We take the glucose and oxygen we breathed in and then release carbon dioxide water and energy. It is the other process that is vital for the survival of living things as we work with plants to take in what they release then we release what they need.

We breathe oxygen into our lungs and then the substance that comes out is not oxygen but carbon dioxide.

Plants

Vascular

Functions of the Root and Shoot System

Root System

It is the anchorage of the plant. It absorbs water and minerals and then transports it to the shoot system. It also plays a role in reproduction.

Shoot System

It is the system that does photosynthesis. It works in transporting the food, water and minerals received from the roots and sustains the plant. It also has storage for these food, minerals and water. It plays a role in reproduction as well.

Three Main Tissue Systems

Dermal Tissue System

This system works with protection and the prevention of water loss.

Main organs include: Epidermis and Periderm (in older stems and roots)

Ground Tissue System

Works with photosynthesis, food storage, regeneration, support and protection.

Main organs include Parenchyma tissue, Collenchyma tissue, and Sclerenchyma tissue

Vascular Tissue System

Works with transport of water and minerals and transport of food.

Main organs include Xylem tissue and Phloem tissue.

Plant Transport

Vascular Plants transport water and nutrients through the xylem and phloem. The main structure of the xylem is composed of dead cells.

Stems

Monocot and Dicot root and stems are composed of different parts, there are some similarities. However, they both serve the same function.

Xylem

Two types of cells that compose the xylem vessel elements and tracheids.

Some will have porus end plates while others will not have ends at all

When the cells die they become a hollow rigid tube.

Phloem

Plays a role in producing sugar called glucose.

Sieve tube cells are the main structure.

They are similar to the vessel elements found in the xylem but are narrower and have pitted ends resembling small sieves

Unlike the xylem, the phloem tissue are alive. There is a twist, at its maturity they do not have a nucleus but are able to function

Companion cells, each sieve tube cell is connected to by a series of pores to a nucleated companion cell. It is believed these cells direct the sieve tube cells.

Non-Vascular Plants

Do not have vascular tissue.

These plants include mosses, liverworts and hornworts.

These plants do not have a xylem so must be in damp areas where they soak up water from roots. It uses the roots and osmosis. To obtain sugars, each cell must be able to perform photosynthesis.

Animal Transport

Like plants animals have specialized tissues and structures in order to circulate blood and gases.

The circulatory, vascular, cardiovascular systems, etc.

Key one is circulatory it deals with oxygen travelling from our mouth/nose through a tube in our throat (like a stem) into our lungs which lets every other system function.

Cloning

Humans are starting to slowly get into cloning. This is to produce animals that do not get sick and the perfect plants. It takes away from genetic diversity as it creates the exact same off-spring. There are many implications that come with it.

Asexual Reproduction

Many different species use asexual breeding strategies.

Binary Fission: Parent cell undergoes cell division to create two new genetically identical off-spring. Parent is lost in the process.

Budding: Cells start together in a circle. Then as they grow and outgrow the attachment they detach from the parent. They are genetically identical to the parent. Parent does not get lose.

Vegetative Propagation: New genetically identical plant is created by a piece of root, stem, or leaf from the parent. The parent is usually not lost.

Fragmentation: They body of the parent breaks into two or more pieces and is able to regenerate into a new organism. The parent dies.

Spores: Spores are reproductive cells in a plant that contain genetic information of a parent. When these cells are released they create a new organism if the condition it lands in is the right fit. The parent survives.

Sexual Reproduction

Unlike asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, results in genetic diversity and variety.

There are two ways of sexual reproduction

External: Is done in water and the sperm and egg cells meet without the male and female actually touching each other. Requires a large amount of these cells to be released at one time.

Internal: The sperm and egg join inside of the body. Less of these cells need to be released but requires a male and a female to be together and physically touch each other. The species needs to have specialized reproductive organs and strategy.

Bacteria

Although there are many species of bacteria they all share common characteristics.

All bacteria are prokaryotic, this means they lack membrane-bound organelles and that genetic material is found in the cytoplasm and not the nucleus

All bacteria are unicellular

DNA of bacteria is found in the nucleoid

All bacteria reproduce asexually through binary fission

Shape

Common shapes include, spirillum, bacillus, coccus, diplo, strepto, staphylo

Nutrition

Two modes of nutrition these include Autotroph and Heterotroph

Autotroph

Two sub categories include Photoautotroph and Chemoautotroph

Photoautotroph, light energy source and CO2 carbon source, while chemoautotroph has a Inorganic chemicals energy source and CO2 carbon source

Heterotroph

Two sub categories include Photoheterotroph and Chemoheterotroph

Photoheterotroph has a light energy source and organic compounds carbon source while Chemoheterotroph has a Organic compounds energy source and Organic compounds carbon source.

Respiration

Bacteria still undergo cellular respiration to have energy for their functions.

Occurs on bacterial plasma membrane

Simple diffusion is needed for gas exchange since these unicellular organisms are always in direct contact with the environment.

Not all bacteria require oxygen for cellular respiration, it is deadly for some.

We can use this to identify bacteria

Obligate Aerobes: These species cannot survive without oxygen

Obligate Anaerobes: These bacterial cannot live if oxygen is present.

Facultative Aerobes: Species that can live with or without oxygen

Fungi

Decomposers that break down dead material.

Structure

Fungi consist of hyphae

Hyphae: Basically thin tubes filled with cytoplasm

These hyphae mature and branch out to form a mass called a mycelium

Contain three phylum

Zygomycota - Include some familiar bread and fruit moulds, most are soil fungi, most are used commercially, many are parasites of insects

Asomycota - Many such as yeast, are harmful to humans. Some cause serious plant diseases.

Basidiomycota - They include mushrooms, puffballs, and bracket fungi. Most are decomposers.