‹ Biology simulationsBiology · IGCSE 0610 · 1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms‹ Biology simulationsBiology · IGCSE 0610 · 1 Characteristics and classification of living organismsEight simulations covering Topic 1: the characteristics of living organisms (1.1), classification systems (1.2) and the features of organisms (1.3). Test whether things are alive, cross animals to find species, key out 3D organisms, sort vertebrates and arthropods, and compare the five kingdoms, plant groups and DNA. Tabs marked Extended are for the Supplement.
Living things show all seven characteristics of life: movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition (MRS GREN). Some non-living things seem to show a few of them. Pick something, test each characteristic and decide whether it is really alive.
A species is a group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring. Try crossing pairs of animals and see whether their offspring can breed. Every species has a two-part scientific name: the genus, then the species. Click two species in the tree to see how closely related they are.
A dichotomous key identifies an organism by a series of questions, each with two answers based on features you can see. Look at the mystery organism (drag to turn it), answer each question, and follow the key until it gives you a name.
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone. They are placed in five groups by features you can see: what covers the skin, how they breathe and how they reproduce. Explore each model, then classify the tricky animals below it.
Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs, a segmented body and a hard exoskeleton. They are split into four groups mainly by counting legs, body parts and antennae. Count the legs on each model, then classify the animals in the quiz.
Every organism belongs to one of five kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, prokaryotes and protoctists. The kingdoms are told apart by their cells: whether there is a nucleus, a cell wall and what it is made of, chloroplasts, and whether the organism is one cell or many. Viruses are not in any kingdom because they are not made of cells.
Ferns have large divided leaves called fronds and reproduce by spores, not seeds. Flowering plants make seeds inside fruits and are split into monocotyledons and dicotyledons by their seeds, leaf veins and flower parts. Turn each plant and compare.
Classification aims to show evolutionary relationships. Species that share a more recent common ancestor have more similar base sequences in their DNA, because there has been less time for mutations to build up. Compare the sequences, then build the family tree from the most similar pair outwards.
Eight interactive 3D and 2D simulations for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 topic 1: test the seven characteristics of life on a dog, a plant, a car, a fire and a crystal in 3D, species and binomial names, a dichotomous key with 3D organisms, the five vertebrate groups, the four arthropod groups with leg counting, the five kingdoms and viruses, ferns, monocots and dicots, and classification using DNA base sequences.
Eight simulations covering Topic 1: the characteristics of living organisms (1.1), classification systems (1.2) and the features of organisms (1.3). Test whether things are alive, cross animals to find species, key out 3D organisms, sort vertebrates and arthropods, and compare the five kingdoms, plant groups and DNA. Tabs marked Extended are for the Supplement.
Characteristics and classification is a free, browser-based simulation for Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (topic 1 Characteristics and classification). The course is assessed in Paper 1/2 (Multiple choice), Paper 3/4 (Theory), Paper 5 (Practical Test), Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical). Syllabus for examination in 2026-2028. There are 8 tabs, each a self-contained experiment with its own controls and live readings, and nothing to install: it runs on a laptop, tablet or classroom projector.
Full syllabus map: IGCSE Biology 0610 topic 1.
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