Download MEMORANDUM OF ASSESSMENT Module 3: Classification and

MEMORANDUM OF ASSESSMENT
Module 3: Classification and Diversity of Living Organisms
1. The taxonomy system that modern day scientists use to sort living organisms into
groups, works according to levels of classification.
a. What is the lowest level of classification called __________
Answer:
Species
b. Similar animals are further divided into the next level which is called_______
Answer:
Genus
c. Similar genera are placed into larger groups called ________
Answer:
Families
d. Families are further divided into groups called ____________
Answer:
Orders
e. Orders are subdivided into larger groups called ___________
Answer:
Classes
f.
Classes are grouped together as _____________
Answer:
Phyla
g. Phyla are grouped together into _____________
Answer:
Kingdoms
2. Give a description for the binomial nomenclature system of naming organisms.
Answer:
Nomenclature is the science of name giving and the formal system of naming species is
called binominal nomenclature – whereby organisms, both living and extinct, are given a
specific name which consists of two Latin names. This Latin name incorporates the
name of the genus to which it belongs and a species name.
3. When biologists use the binomial system, certain rules are followed. List them.
Answer:
 The genus name is written first, followed by the species name.
 When typed, the name should be in italics; when hand-written, it should be
underlined separately
 The genus name always starts with a capital letter (Homo), and the species name
with a small letter (sapiens).
 The genus name is written out in full when it is first given, e.g. Homo sapiens. When
used again, the name can be abbreviated to H. sapiens.
The Institute of Information Technology, 2008
MEMORANDUM OF ASSESSMENT
Module 3: Classification and Diversity of Living Organisms
4. There are two different schools of classification among scientists. These are cladistic
and traditional. Explain the difference.
Answer:
Cladistics is the hierarchical classification of species based on evolutionary ancestry and
it focuses on evolutionary relationships. In traditional classification species with obvious
differences are divided.
5. What is a dichotomous key?
Answer:
Dichotomous means ‘branching into two’ and a dichotomous key works by giving you
pairs of descriptions.
6. Name the properties of a good dichotomous key
Answer:
It should provide the user with two options of one visible external feature to choose from.
It should eliminate about half of the possibilities at each stage.
7. Explain the meaning of the word biodiversity.
Answer:
Biodiversity is the existence of a wide variety of species or other taxa of plants, animals
and microorganism in a natural community or habitat, or of communities within a
particular environment, or of genetic variation within a species
8. Name the six kingdoms in the three-domain, six-kingdom system of classification.
Answer:
Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
9. What are the three domains in the above system?
Answer:
Eubacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
10. What is the reproduction process of Eubacteria called and what does it mean?
Answer:
Eubacteria reproduce asexually by a process called binary fission, a process by which
the parent divides to form two similar daughter cells.
11. Define Archaebacteria.
Answer:
Archaebacteria are a type of prokaryote, a one-celled organism without a cell nucleus.
Archaebacteria are similar in structure to one-celled prokaryotes, but genetically they are
closer related to Eukaryotes.
The Institute of Information Technology, 2008
MEMORANDUM OF ASSESSMENT
Module 3: Classification and Diversity of Living Organisms
12. Study the table below which sets out the difference between the features of
Monocotyledon and Dicotyledon plants and fill in the blank blocks.
(answers in bold and italic)
Feature
Leaves
Seeds
Flowers
Monocotyledons
Narrow, long, strap-shaped
leaves with parallel veins
Seed consists of one
cotyledon
Flower parts (petals, anthers)
occur in 3s or multiples of 3s
Venation
Vascular bundles are
scattered throughout the
stem
Stem
Usually, only primary growth
occurs
Adventitious root system
Grasses, wheat, maize
plants
Roots
Examples
Dicotyledons
Broad, short leaves with net
veins
Seed consists of two
cotyledons
Flower parts occur in
multiples of 2s, (4, 6, 8) or in
5s
Vascular bundles arranged in
ring
inside stem
Secondary growth occurs
Tap root system
Acacias, roses, beans
13. Name the five classes into which vertebrates are classified.
Answer:
 Mammalia (mammals);
 Aves (birds);
 Reptilia (reptiles);
 Amphibia (amphibians); and
 Pisces (fish).
The Institute of Information Technology, 2008