Classification Flashcards
Define classification
Placing living organisms into groups based on similarities or differences
Define taxonomy
The system of classifying organisms according to their observable feature or genetic characteristics
Why do we classify living things
- to make it easier to identify organisms
- to predict characteristics of other species in a group
- to help us see evolutionary relationships between species
In th past, how did we classify organisms
Observable features
How do we classify organisms nowadays
-dna base sequence
- amino acid base sequence
-embryonic similarities
-behaviour
Evolutionary past
Explain the work of Carl Linnaeus
First person to start classifying living organisms, he did this based on visible feature, he put them into ranked categories
What are the seven taxonomic groups
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
As you go down the taxonomic groups what would you find
Increasing similarity between organisms
What are the five kingdoms
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protoctista Prokaryotae
What is each kingdom divided into
What is this
Phyla
Where organisms share a common body plan
What is each phyla divided into
What is this
Classes
Fish/ amphibian/ reptiles/ birds/ mammals
Members of the same species can do what
Interbreed to produces fertile offspring
Explain the binomial naming system
First name is generic name- genus
Second name is specific name- species
How should you write the binomial name correctly
Always in ITALICS
Genus capital FIRST letter
Species lower case FIRST letter
Why should we use the binomial naming system
- some organisms have different common names which can be confusing
- universal and recognised world wide
- tells us the genus and species of an organism
Define autotrophic
Organisms that use light energy or chemical energy along with inorganic molecules to synthesise complex organic molecules
Define heterotrophic
Organisms that have to ingest and digest complex organic molecules, releasing the chemical potential energy stored in them
Define saprophytic/ saprotrophic
Organisms that gain nutrients by absorption. Mainly of decaying material
Explain the kingdom Prokaryotae
Means before the nucleus Include bacteria and Cyanobacteria No membrane bound organelles 70s ribosomes Peptidoglycan cell walls Heterotrophic and autotrophic
Explain the kingdom of protoctista
Eukaryotes
Mostly single celled
Heterotrophic or autotrophic
Describe the kingdom of fungi
Eukaryotes Multicellular Have a network of numerous strands called hyphae Cell wall made of chitin Heterotrophic and saprophytic
Describe the kingdom of plantae
Eukaryotes
Multicellular
Cellulose cell walls
Photoautotropic
Describe the kingdom animalia
Eukaryotes
Multicellular
Heterotrophic
No cell walls
Name three common examples of biochemical molecules used in classification
- cytochrome ( protein used in the process of respiration )
- haemoglobin
- DNA ( and RNA)
