Bootcamp Diversity of Life Study Guide –
Classification, Evolution, Domains &
Kingdoms (Complete Review 2026)
what is taxonomy?
the science of classifying organisms
list the broadest to most specific taxonomic ranks:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
list the six kingdoms:
1. Archaea
2. Eubacteria
3. Protista
4. Fungi
5. Plantae
6. Animalia
eubacteria and archaea are _____ cells
prokaryotic
_____ do not have membrane-bound nuclei (or organelles for the most part)
prokaryotes
_____ have cell walls with peptidoglycan and esters
eubacteria
_____ have polysaccharide cell walls and ethers
archaea
_____ is a combination of carbohydrate and amino acids in bacterial cell walls
peptidoglycan
what is a gram stain?
a test to determine the amount of peptidoglycan content in a eubacteria cell wall
_____ bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer, and they appear dark purple
gram positive
_____ bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer between two membranes, and they
appear pink
gram negative
the _____ makes gram negative bacteria visible during staining
counterstain
the _____ is the gel located in the periplasmic space (predominantly in gram
negative bacteria)
periplasm
,_____ is found (predominantly) between membranes of gram negative bacteria
periplasmic space
(very small in gram positive bacteria)
list the layers of gram positive bacterial membrane (from inside to outside)
plasma membrane > periplasmic space > peptidoglycan
list the layers of gram negative bacterial membrane (from inside to outside)
plasma membrane > periplasmic space > peptidoglycan > outer membrane (LPS and
protein)
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an _____ found in gram _____ bacteria only
endotoxin; negative
where is LPS found in gram negative cells, and when is it released?
the outer membrane; when the bacteria is destroyed
an _____ is a toxin that both gram positive and gram negative bacteria secrete
exotoxin
endotoxins are only secreted by gram _____ bacteria
negative
_____ are acidic polysaccharides that provide significant rigidity and structure
only in gram _____ bacteria
teichoic acids; positive
how do teichoic acids confer rigidity and structure?
they connect the cell wall peptidoglycan to the cell membrane
a _____ covers both gram negative and gram positive bacterial cell walls
capsule
bacterial capsules are _____ because they decrease the capacity for bacteria to
be phagocytosed by immune cells
virulence factors
in prokaryotes, the small ribosomal subunit is _____ and the large ribosomal
subunit is _____ - these combine to form a _____ ribosome
30S; 50S; 70S
prokaryotic ribosomal subunits are made in the _____, and they are assembled
into a 70S ribosome in the _____
nucleoid/cytosol; cytosol
eubacteria and archaea can contain extrachromosomal pieces of DNA called
_____
plasmids
plasmids are segments of _____ DNA that may pass _____ between cells
extrachromosomal; horizontally
_____ have histone proteins and introns, but _____ lack both
archaea; bacteria
archaea and bacteria both have _____ and _____ (structural features)
pili; flagella
both archaea and bacteria undergo _____ to reproduce
binary fission (asexual reproduction)
binary fission is an _____ mechanism where cells simultaneously grow, replicate
their genome, and divide into 2 genetically identical cells
,asexual reproduction
protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia are _____ kingdoms
eukaryotic
eukaryotes have membrane bound _____ and _____
nuclei; organelles
some _____ have cell walls, whereas most _____ will have them
non-mamalian eukaryotes: prokaryotes
(mammals have an extracellular matrix with collagen fibrils instead of a cell wall)
prokaryotic cells are _____ (size) than eukaryotes
smaller
prokaryotes tend to have _____ chromosome(s) in their _____, while eukaryotes
tend to have _____ chromosome(s) in their _____
a single, circular; nucleoid; multiple, linear; nucleus
plasmids are frequently in _____, but they only occur sometimes in _____
bacterial prokaryotes; eukaryotes
(plasmids occur sometimes in archaeal prokaryotes)
histone proteins are present in _____ and _____, but they are absent in _____
eukaryotes; archaeal prokaryotes; bacterial prokaryotes
DNA replication is _____ (speed) in prokaryotes, but it is _____ (speed) in
eukaryotes
fast; slow
introns are present in _____ and _____, but they are absent in _____
eukaryotes; archaeal prokaryotes; bacterial prokaryotes
prokaryotes have _____ ribosomes, while eukaryotes have _____ ribosomes
70S (30S and 50S subunits); 80S (40S and 60S subunits)
prokaryotes are _____ (ploidy), while eukaryotes are _____ (ploidy)
haploid; diploid
(prokaryotes/eukaryotes) do not have telomeres, but (prokaryotes/eukaryotes) do
prokaryotes; eukaryotes
the electron transport chain (ETC) is located along the _____ of prokaryotes, and
it is located along the _____ of eukaryotes
cell membrane; mitochondrial inner membrane (cristae)
transcription + translation occurs simultaneously for the same mRNA transcript
in _____
prokaryotes
transcription + translation does not occur simultaneously for the same mRNA
transcript in _____
eukaryotes
(transcription occurs first in the nucleus, then translation occurs when the mRNA moves
to the cytoplasm)
prokaryotes have a (short/long) cell cycle, and they divide by _____
short; binary fission
eukaryotes have a (short/long) cell cycle, and they divide by _____
, long; mitosis/meiosis
(mitosis for somatic cells and meiosis to make gametes)
_____ are usually unicellular organisms, which can be fungus like, animal like, or
plant like
protists
fungus-like protists (slime mold) do not have a cell wall made of _____ and they
can move via _____
chitin; flagella or cilia
_____ organisms feed on decaying matter
saprophytic
how do fungus-like protists reproduce?
asexual reproduction and sporulation
_____ protists are photosynthetic primary producers
plant-like
dinoflagellates, diatoms, and euglenoids are unicellular, _____ protists that live in
aquatic environments, reproduce asexually
plant-like
_____ is an algal bloom created by dinoflagellates, which leads to a build up of
toxins and depletion of oxygen in the water
red tide
amoeba and paramecium are _____ protists (protozoa)
animal-like
amoeba and paramecium are protozoa (animal-like protists) that move via _____
cilia/flagella
_____ are protozoa (animal-like protists) that are heterotrophic and act as
parasitic pathogens
amoeba and paramecium
fungi are heterotrophic _____, and they are (prokaryotic/eukaryotic)
saprophytes; eukaryotic
_____ are unicellular, eukaryotic, non-filamentous fungi
yeasts
yeast are _____ (metabolism), and they reproduce asexually, by _____
facultatively anaerobic; budding
_____ are multicellular, eukaryotic, filamentous fungi
molds
molds form hyphae, and they are _____(metabolism)
aerobic
_____ are long branching network with nearby fungi
hyphae
a _____ is a whole group of hyphae
mycelium
_____ hyphae are separated into sections
septate
_____ hyphae are not separated into sections
coenocytic
Classification, Evolution, Domains &
Kingdoms (Complete Review 2026)
what is taxonomy?
the science of classifying organisms
list the broadest to most specific taxonomic ranks:
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
list the six kingdoms:
1. Archaea
2. Eubacteria
3. Protista
4. Fungi
5. Plantae
6. Animalia
eubacteria and archaea are _____ cells
prokaryotic
_____ do not have membrane-bound nuclei (or organelles for the most part)
prokaryotes
_____ have cell walls with peptidoglycan and esters
eubacteria
_____ have polysaccharide cell walls and ethers
archaea
_____ is a combination of carbohydrate and amino acids in bacterial cell walls
peptidoglycan
what is a gram stain?
a test to determine the amount of peptidoglycan content in a eubacteria cell wall
_____ bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer, and they appear dark purple
gram positive
_____ bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer between two membranes, and they
appear pink
gram negative
the _____ makes gram negative bacteria visible during staining
counterstain
the _____ is the gel located in the periplasmic space (predominantly in gram
negative bacteria)
periplasm
,_____ is found (predominantly) between membranes of gram negative bacteria
periplasmic space
(very small in gram positive bacteria)
list the layers of gram positive bacterial membrane (from inside to outside)
plasma membrane > periplasmic space > peptidoglycan
list the layers of gram negative bacterial membrane (from inside to outside)
plasma membrane > periplasmic space > peptidoglycan > outer membrane (LPS and
protein)
lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an _____ found in gram _____ bacteria only
endotoxin; negative
where is LPS found in gram negative cells, and when is it released?
the outer membrane; when the bacteria is destroyed
an _____ is a toxin that both gram positive and gram negative bacteria secrete
exotoxin
endotoxins are only secreted by gram _____ bacteria
negative
_____ are acidic polysaccharides that provide significant rigidity and structure
only in gram _____ bacteria
teichoic acids; positive
how do teichoic acids confer rigidity and structure?
they connect the cell wall peptidoglycan to the cell membrane
a _____ covers both gram negative and gram positive bacterial cell walls
capsule
bacterial capsules are _____ because they decrease the capacity for bacteria to
be phagocytosed by immune cells
virulence factors
in prokaryotes, the small ribosomal subunit is _____ and the large ribosomal
subunit is _____ - these combine to form a _____ ribosome
30S; 50S; 70S
prokaryotic ribosomal subunits are made in the _____, and they are assembled
into a 70S ribosome in the _____
nucleoid/cytosol; cytosol
eubacteria and archaea can contain extrachromosomal pieces of DNA called
_____
plasmids
plasmids are segments of _____ DNA that may pass _____ between cells
extrachromosomal; horizontally
_____ have histone proteins and introns, but _____ lack both
archaea; bacteria
archaea and bacteria both have _____ and _____ (structural features)
pili; flagella
both archaea and bacteria undergo _____ to reproduce
binary fission (asexual reproduction)
binary fission is an _____ mechanism where cells simultaneously grow, replicate
their genome, and divide into 2 genetically identical cells
,asexual reproduction
protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia are _____ kingdoms
eukaryotic
eukaryotes have membrane bound _____ and _____
nuclei; organelles
some _____ have cell walls, whereas most _____ will have them
non-mamalian eukaryotes: prokaryotes
(mammals have an extracellular matrix with collagen fibrils instead of a cell wall)
prokaryotic cells are _____ (size) than eukaryotes
smaller
prokaryotes tend to have _____ chromosome(s) in their _____, while eukaryotes
tend to have _____ chromosome(s) in their _____
a single, circular; nucleoid; multiple, linear; nucleus
plasmids are frequently in _____, but they only occur sometimes in _____
bacterial prokaryotes; eukaryotes
(plasmids occur sometimes in archaeal prokaryotes)
histone proteins are present in _____ and _____, but they are absent in _____
eukaryotes; archaeal prokaryotes; bacterial prokaryotes
DNA replication is _____ (speed) in prokaryotes, but it is _____ (speed) in
eukaryotes
fast; slow
introns are present in _____ and _____, but they are absent in _____
eukaryotes; archaeal prokaryotes; bacterial prokaryotes
prokaryotes have _____ ribosomes, while eukaryotes have _____ ribosomes
70S (30S and 50S subunits); 80S (40S and 60S subunits)
prokaryotes are _____ (ploidy), while eukaryotes are _____ (ploidy)
haploid; diploid
(prokaryotes/eukaryotes) do not have telomeres, but (prokaryotes/eukaryotes) do
prokaryotes; eukaryotes
the electron transport chain (ETC) is located along the _____ of prokaryotes, and
it is located along the _____ of eukaryotes
cell membrane; mitochondrial inner membrane (cristae)
transcription + translation occurs simultaneously for the same mRNA transcript
in _____
prokaryotes
transcription + translation does not occur simultaneously for the same mRNA
transcript in _____
eukaryotes
(transcription occurs first in the nucleus, then translation occurs when the mRNA moves
to the cytoplasm)
prokaryotes have a (short/long) cell cycle, and they divide by _____
short; binary fission
eukaryotes have a (short/long) cell cycle, and they divide by _____
, long; mitosis/meiosis
(mitosis for somatic cells and meiosis to make gametes)
_____ are usually unicellular organisms, which can be fungus like, animal like, or
plant like
protists
fungus-like protists (slime mold) do not have a cell wall made of _____ and they
can move via _____
chitin; flagella or cilia
_____ organisms feed on decaying matter
saprophytic
how do fungus-like protists reproduce?
asexual reproduction and sporulation
_____ protists are photosynthetic primary producers
plant-like
dinoflagellates, diatoms, and euglenoids are unicellular, _____ protists that live in
aquatic environments, reproduce asexually
plant-like
_____ is an algal bloom created by dinoflagellates, which leads to a build up of
toxins and depletion of oxygen in the water
red tide
amoeba and paramecium are _____ protists (protozoa)
animal-like
amoeba and paramecium are protozoa (animal-like protists) that move via _____
cilia/flagella
_____ are protozoa (animal-like protists) that are heterotrophic and act as
parasitic pathogens
amoeba and paramecium
fungi are heterotrophic _____, and they are (prokaryotic/eukaryotic)
saprophytes; eukaryotic
_____ are unicellular, eukaryotic, non-filamentous fungi
yeasts
yeast are _____ (metabolism), and they reproduce asexually, by _____
facultatively anaerobic; budding
_____ are multicellular, eukaryotic, filamentous fungi
molds
molds form hyphae, and they are _____(metabolism)
aerobic
_____ are long branching network with nearby fungi
hyphae
a _____ is a whole group of hyphae
mycelium
_____ hyphae are separated into sections
septate
_____ hyphae are not separated into sections
coenocytic
