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Classification-Dichotomous keys
What is a dichotomous key?
• A useful tool which uses a sequence of steps to classify
and identify a living or non-living object
• Classifies objects according to whether a particular
characteristic is present or absent
• Can be represented in written or graphical form
Written dichotomous key
1a. Object is living ………………………………. Go to 3
b. Object is non-living ………………………..….. Go to 2
2a. Object is a hard mineral …………………….. ROCK
b. Object is made of tiny pieces of rock
and organic matter ……………………………… SOIL
3a. Organism is a plant …………………………….. Go to 4
b. Organism is an animal …………………………. Go to 5
4a. Flowers of the plant have petals ………… DAISY
b. Flowers of the plant have no petals ……. GRASS
5a. Animal has wings ………………………………… MAGPIE
b. Animal has no wings ……………………………. SNAIL
Graphical dichotomous key
organisms
plant
animal
grain
rye
wheat
fish
reptile
bird
trout
snake
sparrow