Classification And Evolution

Question 1

What is classification ?

Answer 1

Name given to the process by which living organisms are orated into groups, organisms within each group share similar features

Question 2

What are the five kingdoms proposed by Robert Whittaker?

Answer 2

1) Prokaryotae (Bacteria)
2) Protoctista
3) Fungi
4) Plantae
5) Animalia

Organisms were originally classified as into these kingdoms bases on the similarities in there observable features

Question 3

What are the three domains, proposed by Carl Woese?

Answer 3

Using genetic evidence, Woese groups organisms based on difference in sequences of ribosomal RNA

1) Eukarya (have 80s ribosomes)
- rna polymerase contains 12 proteins

2) Archaea (have 70s ribosomes)
- rna polymerase contains between 8-10 proteins

3) Bacteria (70s ribosomes)
- rna polymerase contains 5 proteins

Question 4

Outline the taxonomic hierarchy

Answer 4

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, Species

Question 5

What is the newer six kingdom system?

Answer 5

1 - Eubacteria
2- Archaebacteria
3- Protocista
4- Fungi
5- Plantae
6- Animalia

Question 6

What is binomial nomenclature?

Answer 6

All organisms are given a scientific name, consisting of two words

1st word is the organisms genus
2nd word is the organisms species

E.g. Homo (genus) Sapiens (species)

Question 7

Why do scientists classify organisms ?

Answer 7

• to identify the species easily
• to predict characteristics
• to find evolutionary links

Question 8

Phylogeny

Answer 8

Name given to the evolutionary relationship between organisms ( the study of phylogeny is known as phylogenetics)
- it reveals which group a particular organism is related to and how closely related
- these relationships can be represented on phylogenetic trees