Classification

Question 1

What is hierarchical classification?

Answer 1

• organisation of organisms where smaller groups are contained within larger groups
• no overlap between groups

Question 2

What is phylogenetic classification?

Answer 2

• organisation of organisms according to their evolutionary history
• organisms that share a common ancestor are linked together
• shows how species are related in time

Question 3

What are the issues with defining species?

Answer 3

• not fixed, can evolve over time
• can be considerable variation
• many species are extinct and have no fossil record
• some species rarely reproduce sexually
• some species are sterile/ infertile

Question 4

What is the binomial system when naming species?

Answer 4

Genus species

Question 5

What is the order of taxons?

Answer 5

1. Domain
2. Kingdom
3. Phylum
4. Class
5. Order
6. Family
7. Genus
8. Species

Question 6

What does a phylogenetic tree show?

Answer 6

Evolutionary link between organisms
The closer the branches, the closer the evolutionary relationship