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Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification

The things that do not fit

A virus does not eat, breathe or grow on its own. It multiplies only inside a living cell.

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The rule

The first question of the scheme is about cell type.

A virus has no cells, so the first question fails. It is not placed in any of the five kingdoms.

A virus carries genetic material, which holds its instructions. The first two questions ask about cells. A virus has none to describe.

Five kingdoms, five labelled boxes.
Step 1 of 4
  1. Five kingdoms, five labelled boxes.
  2. The virus has no cells. It fits none of them.
  3. Euglena has chlorophyll, like a plant.
  4. It swims and can take in food, yet it belongs to Protista.

Two kinds of misfit

Euglena is one cell with a true nucleus. That places it in Protista. It makes food in light, like a plant. It also swims, and it can take in food from outside.

Yeast is another odd case. It is one cell, yet it belongs to Fungi. Its chitin wall places it there.

Classification is not fixed. It changes when we learn more. Better microscopes and DNA studies changed the groups.

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This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 Too many to list
  3. 2 A feature that splits cleanly
  4. 3 What decides a group
  5. 4 Groups inside groups
  6. 5 Five large groups
  7. 6 Two names for every kind
  8. 7 The things that do not fit
  9. 8 The big picture
  10. 9 Track quiz

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