Lesson 1 of 4 · Grade 10 Biology
Classification of living things
15 min
Characteristics of living things (MRS GREN)
Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion and Nutrition.
Taxonomic units (largest to smallest)
Kingdom → Phylum (Division in plants) → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
Binomial nomenclature
Each organism has a two-part scientific name: Genus (capital letter) + species (small letter), underlined separately when handwritten or in italics when printed.
- Human: Homo sapiens
- Maize: Zea mays
- Domestic cat: Felis catus
The five kingdoms
- Monera: bacteria (no true nucleus).
- Protoctista: e.g. amoeba, algae, Plasmodium.
- Fungi: mushrooms, yeast, moulds.
- Plantae: green plants.
- Animalia: animals.
Key points to remember
- MRS GREN lists the characteristics of life
- Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
- Binomial names: Genus species
- Monera have no true nucleus
Test yourself
