Cambridge IGCSE·Co-ordinated Sciences 0654·Biology
Characteristics Classification Of Living Organisms
Key knowledge — Characteristics Classification Of Living Organisms
Key facts & rules
- MRS NERG: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Nutrition, Excretion, Reproduction, Growth.
- Taxonomy levels (most → least inclusive): Domain → Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
- Binomial nomenclature: Genus species (e.g. Homo sapiens) — Genus capitalised, species lower case, both in italics.
- Vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals — all have a backbone.
- Dichotomous key: series of paired statements ('either/or') used to identify organisms.
- Characteristics used for classification: body structure, biochemistry (DNA), evolutionary history.
Laws & theorems
- Species definition: organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring.
IGCSE Biology — Characteristics & classification of living organisms
541 Cambridge IGCSE 0654 biology past paper questions on characteristics & classification of living organisms, organised by subtopic. Pick a subtopic to start practising.
About characteristics & classification of living organisms on IGCSE 0654
The characteristics shared by all living organisms (MRS GREN) and how species are named and classified into kingdoms. Foundational vocabulary that underpins the rest of the Biology paper.