Classification Flashcards
What is a genus?
A small group of similar (closely related) species
What is a species?
Unique to that group of similar closely related species
What is the internationally accepted scientific name in Latin that has 2 parts?
First part of the name (genus- has a capital letter)
Second part of the name- (species- lowercase letter)
How are names written?
In italics or underlined if handwritten
What does successful reproduction include?
Compatibility
Courtship behaviour
What does compatibility consist of?
Genetically-e.g. 2 gametes make a diploid organism
Anatomical (+ physiological)
When is courtship behaviour carried out by organisms?
To attract a mate of the right species
Courtship behaviour being species specific?
Only members of the same species will do and respond to that courtship behaviour
Allows members of the same species to recognise eachother which prevents interbreeding and makes reproduction more successful- mating with the wrong species wont produce fertile offspring
Can courtship behaviour be used to classify organisms?
The more closely related species are, the more similar their courtship behaviour
Examples of courtship behaviour?
Male peacocks show off their colourful tails- that tail pattern is only found in peacocks
Male butterflies use chemicals- only the correct species responds
What is phylogeny?
The study of the evolutionary history of groups of organisms
What does phylogeny show?
Shows us who’s related to whom and how closely related they are to
Homologous characteristics?
Similar structures
Originated from the same ancestors
Analogous characteristics?
have common form
Taxonomy?
The science of classification- involves naming organisms and organising them into groups
Hierarchy order?
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
How are the groups arranged in the hierachy?
Largest groups at the top- smallest groups at the bottom
Organisms can only belong to one group at each level in the hierarchy
Definition of species?
A group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring
4 pieces of evidence for evolutionary relationships?
1) observable characteristics
2) DNA sequence
3) mRNA sequence
4) amino acid sequence
Which observable characteristic is best for distringuishing between similar specs?
DNA sequence as DNA has most variation within a gene (silent mutations)
Which is best for studying evolutionary relationships between classes or phylum>
Amino acid sequence as amino acid sequence has fewest differences
What can genome sequencing be used to determine?
The entire base sequence of an organisms DNA
What can the DNA base sequence then be compared to?
The DNA base sequence of another organism to see how closely related they are
Comparing amino acid sequence:
Related organisms have similar DNA sequences and so similar amino acid sequences in their proteins
