Unit 6 The Five Kingdoms
As we already know, all living things are made up of cells, which are the basic components of life. In multicellular organisms, cells that perform the same functions come together to make tissues. Tissues group together to form organs such as the heart or lungs, which in turn form systems such as the circulatory system or the respiratory system. Some systems work together to achieve function and form appliances. All the apparatuses and systems together form an organism, the living being.
However, this level of complexity only occurs in some living things, the most complex. For example, animals, which have cells, tissues, organs, systems, and apparatus. But living things are classified into five kingdoms and not all of them have organs or even tissues. Some living beings, those belonging to the Monera kingdom, are only made up of a single cell, that is, they are unicellular.
In this topic we will see the five kingdoms and the different levels of complexity that each one has, as well as the characteristics they share within the same kingdom.
The order of complexity level of the kingdoms from least to most complex would be: Monera Kingdom, Protist Kingdom, Fungus Kingdom, Plant Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
An example of a system in mammals could be the nervous system whose functions are coordination and sensitivity, and its organs, the brain, the spinal cord and nerves. Or the circulatory system that carries oxygen, nutrients, and carbon dioxide around the body, heart, and blood vessels are its organs.
Plants also have organs such as roots or leaves. Although their level of complexity does not reach that of animals, these organs also perform specific functions for life.
The Monera, Protist and Fungi Kingdoms include millions of microorganisms that can be found anywhere on the planet, from the bottom of the deepest oceans to the highest parts of the atmosphere. Some are very simple organisms; others are highly complex.
The Monera Kingdom
• The organisms in this kingdom are all single-celled.• They are prokaryotic, which means they do not have a separate nucleus.
• They are found in all environments, even within our body.
• Bacteria can cause disease, but they are also used in the fermentation and decomposition process.
The Protist Kingdom
• Organisms in this kingdom can be unicellular or multicellular.
• Sus células son eucariotas, lo que significa que tienen un núcleo que contiene material genético.
• Your cells are eukaryotic, which means they have a nucleus that contains genetic material.
• Algunos protistas tienen clorofila y pueden producir su propio alimento a través de la fotosíntesis; otros absorben los alimentos de su entorno.
• Some protists have chlorophyll and can produce their own food through photosynthesis; Others absorb food from their environment.• Algae and amoebas belong to the Protist Kingdom.
The Fungus Kingdom
Fungi are found worldwide, in all environments, including plants and animals. Some are microscopically small, but others form the largest structures on Earth and span several square kilometers. Scientists estimate that there are around 1.5 million species of fungi.
• Fungi have eukaryotic cells.
• Fungi absorb food from their environment. Many fungi are parasites, they live on their hosts.
• Some fungi like mushrooms can be eaten; others are used to make bread.
• Fungi help with decomposition, which is essential for completing the life cycle and contributing to the conservation of the environment.
The Kingdom of Plants and the Animal Kingdom
All organisms in the animal and plant kingdom are multicellular and eukaryotic. They share some characteristics necessary for life, however they differ greatly. Plants are classified according to how they reproduce: Flowering plants and non-flowering plants. Animals are classified according to their body structure: vertebrates and invertebrates.
• All plants share an important characteristic; They produce their own food using the energy of the sun. This process is called photosynthesis.
Plants do not move from one place to another, but they react to stimuli such as light and water.
• Las plantas con flores se reproducen sexualmente utilizando semillas. Se clasifican en angiospermas y gimnospermas. Las angiospermas producen semillas en la fruta, mientras que las gimnospermas producen semillas en conos.
• Flowering plants reproduce sexually using seeds. They are classified into angiosperms and gymnosperms. Angiosperms produce seeds in the fruit, whereas gymnosperms produce seeds in cones.
The Animal Kingdom
Unlike plants, members of the Animal Kingdom cannot produce their own food; they feed on other living organisms.
• Most animals can move and interact with their environment.
• Invertebrates are animals that do not have an internal skeleton. They include insects, worms, jellyfish, snails, and starfish. About 98 percent of the Animal Kingdom is made of invertebrates.
Vertebrates are animals with an internal skeleton. They include fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Most vertebrates have a well-developed nervous system, which means that they can develop a brain and intelligence.