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Fungi and Protoctists: The Weird and Wonderful
Fungi are brilliant decomposers that you'll find everywhere from your garden to your kitchen (think mouldy bread!). Most fungi are multicellular with bodies made of mycelium - basically networks of tiny thread-like structures called hyphae. What makes them special is their saprotrophic nutrition - they secrete digestive enzymes onto their food and absorb the broken-down nutrients.
Protoctists are the misfits that don't fit neatly into other categories. These microscopic single-celled organisms can be animal-like (such as amoeba) or plant-like (like chlorella with its chloroplasts). The most notorious protoctist is Plasmodium, which causes malaria.
Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protoctists. Your white blood cells fight back by producing antibodies to destroy these invaders and antitoxins to neutralise their harmful toxins.
Quick Tip: Remember fungi by thinking "external digestion" - they digest food outside their body, unlike animals that digest internally!
Viruses: Not Quite Alive
Here's something that might blow your mind - viruses aren't actually living organisms! They're tiny particles smaller than bacteria that can't survive on their own. Viruses are parasitic and can only reproduce by hijacking living cells, which is pretty sneaky when you think about it.
Viruses have no cellular structure but they do have a protein coat and contain either DNA or RNA (never both). They come in loads of different shapes and sizes, and they can infect every type of organism on Earth.
You'll definitely recognise some examples: the tobacco mosaic virus messes up tobacco plant leaves by stopping chloroplast formation, influenza virus gives you the flu, and HIV causes AIDS.
Remember: Viruses are like biological pirates - they can't survive alone and must hijack other cells to reproduce!
Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic: The Great Cell Divide
Eukaryotic organisms include animals, plants, and fungi - basically anything with a proper nucleus. These cells have a cell membrane, and plants/fungi also have a cell wall. Inside, you'll find cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes, and in plants, chloroplasts. The key thing is their DNA is stored in the nucleus.
Prokaryotic organisms are much simpler - we're talking bacteria here. These single-celled organisms have a cell membrane and cell wall but no nucleus. Their DNA floats freely as a single molecule in the cytoplasm, plus they have extra DNA rings called plasmids.
Specialised cells are like workers with specific jobs. Take red blood cells - they're perfectly designed to transport oxygen. They're packed with haemoglobin , have no nucleus (more room for haemoglobin), and are super flexible to squeeze through narrow blood vessels.
Memory Trick: Pro-karyotic = "Pro" = before = simple cells that came before complex ones with nuclei!
Plants vs Animals: The Ultimate Comparison
Plants are the ultimate self-sufficient organisms - they're autotrophic, meaning they make their own food through photosynthesis using chloroplasts. They're multicellular and store energy as starch or sucrose. Plant cells have some unique features: a cellulose cell wall, a large vacuole, and those all-important chloroplasts.
Animals are quite different - they're heterotrophic, which means they can't make their own food and must eat other organisms. They're also multicellular but have nervous coordination that lets them move and respond quickly to their environment. Animals store carbohydrates as glycogen rather than starch.
The cell structures tell the whole story: animal cells are simpler with just a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and ribosomes. No cell wall, no chloroplasts, no large vacuole.
Key Difference: Plants are like solar panels with roots - they capture energy directly from sunlight, while animals are like mobile consumers that must hunt or graze for food!
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Understanding the Variety of Living Organisms
Ever wondered what makes a mushroom different from a plant, or why viruses aren't actually alive? Understanding the variety of living organisms is crucial for biology - it helps you make sense of everything from disease outbreaks to how different... Show more
Fungi and Protoctists: The Weird and Wonderful
Fungi are brilliant decomposers that you'll find everywhere from your garden to your kitchen (think mouldy bread!). Most fungi are multicellular with bodies made of mycelium - basically networks of tiny thread-like structures called hyphae. What makes them special is their saprotrophic nutrition - they secrete digestive enzymes onto their food and absorb the broken-down nutrients.
Protoctists are the misfits that don't fit neatly into other categories. These microscopic single-celled organisms can be animal-like (such as amoeba) or plant-like (like chlorella with its chloroplasts). The most notorious protoctist is Plasmodium, which causes malaria.
Pathogens are disease-causing microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protoctists. Your white blood cells fight back by producing antibodies to destroy these invaders and antitoxins to neutralise their harmful toxins.
Quick Tip: Remember fungi by thinking "external digestion" - they digest food outside their body, unlike animals that digest internally!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Viruses: Not Quite Alive
Here's something that might blow your mind - viruses aren't actually living organisms! They're tiny particles smaller than bacteria that can't survive on their own. Viruses are parasitic and can only reproduce by hijacking living cells, which is pretty sneaky when you think about it.
Viruses have no cellular structure but they do have a protein coat and contain either DNA or RNA (never both). They come in loads of different shapes and sizes, and they can infect every type of organism on Earth.
You'll definitely recognise some examples: the tobacco mosaic virus messes up tobacco plant leaves by stopping chloroplast formation, influenza virus gives you the flu, and HIV causes AIDS.
Remember: Viruses are like biological pirates - they can't survive alone and must hijack other cells to reproduce!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Eukaryotic vs Prokaryotic: The Great Cell Divide
Eukaryotic organisms include animals, plants, and fungi - basically anything with a proper nucleus. These cells have a cell membrane, and plants/fungi also have a cell wall. Inside, you'll find cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes, and in plants, chloroplasts. The key thing is their DNA is stored in the nucleus.
Prokaryotic organisms are much simpler - we're talking bacteria here. These single-celled organisms have a cell membrane and cell wall but no nucleus. Their DNA floats freely as a single molecule in the cytoplasm, plus they have extra DNA rings called plasmids.
Specialised cells are like workers with specific jobs. Take red blood cells - they're perfectly designed to transport oxygen. They're packed with haemoglobin , have no nucleus (more room for haemoglobin), and are super flexible to squeeze through narrow blood vessels.
Memory Trick: Pro-karyotic = "Pro" = before = simple cells that came before complex ones with nuclei!
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Plants vs Animals: The Ultimate Comparison
Plants are the ultimate self-sufficient organisms - they're autotrophic, meaning they make their own food through photosynthesis using chloroplasts. They're multicellular and store energy as starch or sucrose. Plant cells have some unique features: a cellulose cell wall, a large vacuole, and those all-important chloroplasts.
Animals are quite different - they're heterotrophic, which means they can't make their own food and must eat other organisms. They're also multicellular but have nervous coordination that lets them move and respond quickly to their environment. Animals store carbohydrates as glycogen rather than starch.
The cell structures tell the whole story: animal cells are simpler with just a cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and ribosomes. No cell wall, no chloroplasts, no large vacuole.
Key Difference: Plants are like solar panels with roots - they capture energy directly from sunlight, while animals are like mobile consumers that must hunt or graze for food!
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What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user