These notes provide the information needed to be known for this course. The notes are based on the syllabus for IGCSE Biology, 0610. These notes will save you a tremendous amount of time, as they summarise the information you need to know to pass your IGCSE Biology.
SECTION I – CHARACTARISTICS AND CLASSIFICATION OF LIVIN ORAGNISMS
1.1 - CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS
1. List and describe the characteristics of living things.
2. Define the terms.
Use a mnemonic to remember a list, e.g. MRS GREN stands for the first letters of the seven
characteristics of living organisms.
MOVEMENT - an action by an organism or part of an organism, causing a change of position
or place. Often in response to changes (e.g. the presence of a predator), to find food or a mate.
Some parts of some plants can move very slowly, e.g. to obtain more light for photosynthesis.
RESPIRATION - the chemical reactions that break down nutrient molecules in living cells to
release energy.
SENSITIVITY (or irritability) - the ability to detect changes in the environment (stimuli) and
to make responses to them.
NUTRITION - Obtaining nutrients (organic substances and mineral ions, containing raw
materials or energy for growth and tissue repair). Plants make their own food by
photosynthesis; animals feed on plants or other animals.
EXCRETION - getting rid of the waste products of metabolism (all the chemical reactions).
REPRODUCTION - producing offspring.
GROWTH – a permanent increase in size and mass of an organism by an increase in cell
number or cell size or both.
1.2 – CLASSIFICATION AND DIVERSITY OF LIVING ORGANISMS
1.2.1 – CONCEPT AND USE OF A CLASSIFICATORY SYSTEM
1. Define and describe the binomial system.
The binomial system of naming species is a system in which the scientific name of an organism
is made up of two parts showing the genus (“Equus”) and species (“ferus”). The two words are
Latin
2. Other classification systems.
Cladistics is another way to classify organisms. It can use data from DNA or RNA sequences,
rather than just physical charactaristics.
3. List the main features of the following verterbrates.
BONY FISH – Absorb oxygen through their gills. Have wet scales. Body temperature varies
according to their surroundings (cold-blooded). Reproduce by external fertilization and lay
eggs. Have two ins and one tail.
, AMPHIBIANS – Usually have lungs but can absorb oxygen through their skin. Have moist
skin. Body temperature varies according to their surroundings (coldblooded). Reproduce by
external fertilization and lay eggs. Have four limbs.
REPTILES – Have lungs. Have dry scales. Body temperature varies according to their
surroundings (coldblooded). Reproduce by internal fertilization and lay eggs. Have four limbs.
BIRDS – Have lungs. Have feathers. Have beaks. They can maintain their body temperature
(warm-blooded). Reproduce by internal fertilization and lay eggs. Have four limbs.
MAMMALS – Have lungs. Have fur. They can maintain their body temperature (warm-
blooded). Reproduce by internal fertilization and give birth to live young. Have four limbs.
4. List the main features used in the classification of the following groups, and their adaption
to the environment.
VIRUSES
Very small particles which are capable of infecting every type of living organism. They are
parasitic and can only reproduce inside living cells.
VIRUS STRUCTURE: Particles have a variety of shapes. Do not have a cellular structure, but
rather a core of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat. The genetic material can be
DNA or RNA but not both.
VIRUS ADAPTION: Viruses have relatively high mutation rates. This allows them to quickly
adapt to changes in their host environment. They can transfer genetic material between
different species of host. They force their host cell to make copies of their protein coat and
DNA to reproduce.
, BACTERIA
Microscopic single-celled organisms
BACTERIA STRUCTURE AND FEATURES: Have a cell wall made of polysaccharides and
proteins. Do not have a nucleus, but instead they have a circular chromosome of DNA. Some
can carry out photosynthesis, but most feed on other organisms (living or dead). Some bacteria
are pathogens (such like cause pneumonia).
BACTERIA ADAPTION: Resistance to antibiotics is an example of adaption of bacteria. This is
the capacity of bacteria to withstand the effects of antibiotics or biocides that are intended to
kill or control them.
FUNGI
Mushrooms toadstools and moulds are multicellular fungi. Yeast is a single-celled fungus.
FUNGI STRUCTURE AND FEATURES: Have a cell wall made of chitin (plant cell’s cell walls
are made of cellulose). Fungi are pathogens.
Multicellular fungi are organized into a mycelium – made from thread-like structures called
hyphae.
Fungi cannot carry out photosynthesis. Instead they use saprotrophic nutrition. They secrete
enzymes onto their food so that digestion happens outside the fungal cells. Then they absorb
the digested organic products.
Fungal cells may store carbohydrate as glycogen (plant cells store carbohydrates as starch).
FUNGI ADAPTION: By saprotrophic nutrition, fungi can consume larger variety of materials
compared to other organisms. Consequently, fungi are more likely to find some form of
consumable material in a given environment.
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