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Unit 4: Living organisms and classification

GRADE 6 – Unit 4: Living organisms and classification — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 1 of 8 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

Unit 4: Grouping and identifying organisms — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Summarise the characteristics of living organisms, viruses, species and the use and construction of dichotomous keys.CharacteristicMeaningNutritiontaking in or making food — plants feed by photosynthesis and an…

  • Replication
  • Living or non-living
  • Own species only
  • Fertile offspring
  • Different species
  • Definition

Part 1 of 5The seven characteristics

CharacteristicMeaning
Nutritiontaking in or making food — plants feed by photosynthesis and animals such as bears eat food
Growthyoung organisms get bigger
Movementliving organisms change the shape and position of their bodies
Sensitivityorganisms are sensitive to changes going on around them, such as the smell of meat sensed by a nose
Excretionorganisms get rid of waste materials, such as carbon dioxide breathed out by animals
Reproductionorganisms produce young, making more of the same kind of organism
Respirationfood is broken down inside cells to provide energy

Part 2 of 5Viruses

Viruses
Structure
  • Structure a virus is not made of cells and has RNA inside a protein coat with pegs
Replication
  • Replication a virus can only replicate by getting inside a living cell
Living or non-living
  • Living or non-living scientists disagree because viruses show no life processes outside a host cell

Part 3 of 5Species and reproduction

Own species only
  • Own species only each species reproduces only with other members of its own species, and the offspring belong to the same species as their parents
Fertile offspring
  • Fertile offspring offspring that can also produce offspring
Different species
  • Different species organisms from different species cannot usually reproduce with one another
Definition
  • Definition a species is a group of organisms that can reproduce together to produce fertile offspring

Part 4 of 5Using keys

Dichotomous key
  • Dichotomous key a set of yes/no questions branching into two, used to identify an organism
Method
  • Method start at the top, answer each question and follow the line until the name is reached

Part 5 of 5Constructing keys

Constructing keys
Method
  • Method split the group in two, then split each smaller group in two until every organism has its own name
Features
  • Features use clear features that give the same answer for everyone
Testing
  • Testing ask another person to try the key and improve it with their feedback

Key terms

TermMeaning
OrganismA living thing.
RespirationBreaking down food in cells to release energy.
VirusA tiny particle with genetic material in a protein coat that replicates only inside living cells.
SpeciesA group of organisms that can reproduce together to produce fertile offspring.
VariationDifferences between organisms of the same species.
Dichotomous keyA key made of questions that branch into two.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying living things must breathe or have a heartbeat — plants are alive without breathing or a heart
2
Confusing respiration with breathing — respiration is the breakdown of food inside cells to provide energy
3
Saying a virus can replicate on its own — it can only replicate inside a living cell
4
Saying lions and tigers are one species because they can reproduce — their offspring (ligers) are infertile

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