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Taxonomy
The classification of living things….
There may be over 100 million
different living things on Earth.
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Less than 2 million
have been classified
at this time.
The science of
naming and
classifying living
things is called
taxonomy.
Naming a species:
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A species can be
scientifically named
using binomial
nomenclature (two
name). This means that
the organism is named
using its genus and
species name.
The entire scientific name
is always written in
italics.
The genus name is
always capitalized
Homo
sapiens
The Hierarchy of Classification
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Carolus Linnaeus (17071778) used binomial
nomenclature to name
living things which he
placed in groups
according to their
characteristics. He
proposed a hierarchy
which had levels (taxa)
that included a very broad
range of organisms, like
animals and plants, and
more specific groups like
genus and species.
Levels of Classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
species
Classification of Humans
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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Homo
species sapiens
Evolutionary Classification
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Classification has changed over time from
grouping based on physical characteristics
to grouping based on evolutionary history
and genetics
Phylogeny – evolutionary relationships
among organisms
Derived characters – characteristics that
appear in organisms that were not present
in “older” organisms
Cladogram – shows evolutionary
relationships between organisms
Molecular Clocks
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DNA (and mitochondrial DNA) is always
changing and mutations happen all the time
Scientists can tell how closely related
organisms are based on differences in DNA
and the subsequent amino acid sequences
in proteins.
Modern tool to help scientists classify
organisms
Molecular Clocks..
How are all things classified?
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The “Kingdoms” have changed over time...
1700s – Plantae, Animalia
1800s – Protista, Plantae, Animalia
1950s – Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae,
Animalia
1990s – Eubacteria, Archaebacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
Why???
Six Kingdoms/Three Domains
The Three domains:
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Modern way to
classify organisms
Based on ribosomal
RNA mutations
(molecular clock)
Eukarya – Eukaryotes
Bacteria – Eubacteria
Archaea Archaebacteria
Phyla of the kingdom animalia:
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List of all?
Major phyla:
Classes in the Phylum Chordata
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Class Mammalia – mammals
Class Pisces – fish
Class Amphibia – amphibians
Class Reptilia – reptiles
Class Aves – birds
Link to chart
Orders in the Class Mammalia
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Insectivora – shrew, mole
Chiroptera – bats
Primates – primates
Lagomorpha – rabbits
Rodentia – rodents
Cetacea – whales and dolphins
Carnivora – carnivores
Proboscidea – elephants
Perissodactyla – horses, rhinos
Artiodactyla – antelope, giraffes, camels, pigs
Taxonomy
The end….
Be prepared for a quiz tomorrow!!!