| Answer Key Classifying Animal Life | |
| 1. You are about to make a sandwich for your lunch and discover the bread is moldy. Use as many of the characteristics as possible to explain why the mold is living. | |
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Answer: Mold is a living thing because 1) it has cells; 2) it reproduces and grows; 3) it obtains nutrients from or “eats” the bread.
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| 2. Compare and contrast the kingdom system of taxonomy with cladistics. | |
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Answer: Both systems put organisms into smaller and smaller groups, until single species have been classified. Both systems are based on similarities between organisms. However, the kingdom system is based on similarities of structure, such as feathers or scales or backbones, whereas cladistics is based on evolutionary similarities and common ancestry.
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| 3. Put these taxonomic groups for a goldfish in the correct sequence from largest group to the smallest group: Genus: Carassius; Family: Cyprinidae; Kingdom: Animalia; Species: auratus; Order: Cypriniformes; Class: Actinopterygii; Phylum: Chordata. Then correctly write the scientific name of a goldfish. | |
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Answer: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Actinopterygii; Order: Cypriniformes; Family: Cyprinidae; Genus: Carassius; Species: auratus. Scientific name is Carassius auratus
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| 4. Compare and contrast prokaryotes and eukaryotes. | |
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Answer: Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or organelles. The only organisms that are prokaryotes are archea and bacteria, which are the oldest life forms. All of these organisms are unicellular. Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and organelles. These organisms can be uni- or multi-cellular, and include protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
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| 5. Discuss what advantages a multi-cellular organism might have over a unicellular organism. Then discuss the disadvantages of being multi-cellular. | |
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Answer: Answers will vary and should show thought based on cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.
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| 6. Other than being in the same kingdom, list as many things as you can that you have in common with a butterfly and a dolphin. | |
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Answer: Answers will vary and should be accurate based on the facts of the page.
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| 7. Humans and some plants, although not in the same kingdom, do have some structures in common. Discuss which group of plants has the most structural similarities to humans. | |
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Answer: Angiosperms have the most structural similarities to humans. Cells of angiosperms are eukaryotic, as are our cells. Angiosperms have cells arranged into tissues and organs. They have vascular tissue for carrying materials, similar to our veins and arteries. In reproduction, they keep the “baby” seed inside of a fruit, for protection, similar to how a human baby is inside the uterus. Flowering plants also have sex cells and organs.
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| 8. Upon first glance, one might think fungi are closely related to plants. However, scientist now place fungi as more closely related to animals. What fungi facts do you think that would be based on? | |
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Answer: Fungi, unlike plants, do not have roots or leaves, nor do they do photosynthesis. Like animals, fungi must obtain nutrients from an outside food source. Fungi also contain chitin, which is found in some animal cells.
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| 9. Give at least one reason why all protists are not classified in either Kingdom Animalia, Plantae, or Fungi. | |
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Answer: Protists can not be put into Kingdom Animalia because some protists make their own food through photosynthesis and are unicellular. And although some protists do photosynthesis, not all members do, and protists do not have any types of tissues like plants do. Lastly, protists are not fungus because fungi do not do photosynthesis and do not move, whereas most protists are motile.
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| 10. Discuss three things you knew about bacteria, two things you learned and one thing you never want to forget. Be sure your answers are in your own words. | |
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Answer: Answers will vary. Check for comprehension.
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| 11. Your mom has a cold and says she needs to go to the doctor for an antibiotic. Give her as many reasons as you can why an antibiotic won't work on a viral infection. | |
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Answer: Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria by interfering with their cellular processes. Viruses are not living, they do not have cells, nor do they reproduce on their own. Viruses reproduce by taking over the cells of their host, and antibiotics do not kill host cells.
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