Classification & Taxonomy

Question 1

What is a species?

Answer 1

• group of organisms
• able to breed
• to produce fertile, living offspring

Question 2

What is classification?

Answer 2

-organising living organisms
- into groups
- based on similarities in features ( ev origins and relationships)

Question 3

What is the purpose of classification for scientists? ( x4)

Answer 3

• To identify species – species an organism belongs to can be easily identified.
• To predict characteristics – if many members have similar characteristics, another species have similar characteristics.
• To study ev relationships and find ev links – species in the same group share similar characteristics because they probably evolved from a common ancestor.
• Share research globally to identify links with organisms on other continents.

Question 4

what is the main system of classification?

Answer 4

• hierarchical taxonomic system
• Carl Linnaeus

Question 5

List the order of the hierarchical taxonomic system… (broadest and largest to smallest and specific)

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What do the narrower groups contain?

Answer 6

• fewer species
• more closely related

Question 7

What is taxonomy?

Answer 7

• practice of biological classification

Question 8

In a hierarchical system what is significant about the groups?

Answer 8

• no overlap
• each group is a taxon
• multiple smaller taxa can be put into one larger taxon
• several groups ordered in a hierarchy

Question 9

What are Domains?

Answer 9

• highest taxonomic rank in system
• there are three: bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya

Question 10

What domains consist of prokaryotic organisms?

Answer 10

• Bacteria
• Archaea

Question 11

What domains consist of eukaryotes?

Answer 11

• Eukarya

Question 12

What is a kingdom?

Answer 12

• Taxonomic group below domain, above phylum.
• Organisms within share features
• cell type (prokaryotic or eukaryotic),
• nutritional method (autotrophic or heterotrophic)
• body structure (unicellular or multicellular).

Question 13

What 4 kingdoms does the domain Eukarya contain?

Answer 13

• Plantae (plants)
  -Animalia (animals)
  -Protoctista (unicellular eukaryotes)
  -Fungi (yeasts)

Question 14

What is binomial nomenclature?

Answer 14

• species have a two-part Latin name.
• italicised when typed, underlined when written
• genus (generic name) = uppercase
• species (specific name) = lowercase

Question 15

What are advantages of binomial system?

Answer 15

• Universally understood by scientists worldwide (avoids language barriers)

-Reduces confusion from reigional/common names

• Shows relatedness (e.g. Homo sapiens and Homo erectus are from the same genus)