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Edexcel IGCSE Biology · Spec 1.2-1.3

Variety of Living Organisms

The main groups of living organisms — plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, protoctists and viruses — with the key features and an example of each.

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Variety of Living Organisms

Spec 1.2-1.3

What you need to know

  • Tell eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms apart
  • Describe plants, animals, fungi and protoctists
  • Describe the features of bacteria

Active recall

Quick check

Answer each question before opening the answer.

Name the main groups of living organisms you need to know.

Plants, animals, fungi, protoctists, bacteria and viruses (viruses are not truly living).

Give two features of fungi.

Cell walls made of chitin; feed by extracellular (saprotrophic) digestion; bodies often made of thread-like hyphae forming a mycelium; some, like yeast, are single-celled.

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