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Classification & Taxonomy Notes
Essential
What is the importance of classification?
Question
Activating
Strategy
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Sour straws and sour patch kids
What is
taxonomy &
classification?
Taxonomy = a branch of biology that groups and names organisms
Classification = grouping of objects based on similarities
What did the
1st
classification
system look
like?
1st system
- made by aristotle (384 -322 B.C.)
- used various characteristics to classify organisms into 2 groups: plants and
animals
- problem- showed no evolutionary connections
2nd system
How did the
- made by Carolus linnaeus in 1700’s
2nd system
- still used today
differ from the
- uses physical and structural similarities to group organisms
1st?
- shows evolutionary relationship
(Ex. Bats are classified as mammals bc they have hair + produce milk for their
young)
What is
binomial
Binomial nomenclature:
nomenclature? 1st word = genus (group of similar species)
2nd word = specific epithet (characteristic)
What are the
Ex. Species name for humans is Homo sapiens (genus= homo, sapiens = wise in
rules of
Latin)
binomial
Rules for writing:
nomenclature?
1. always capitalize first letter of genus
2. use Latin (no longer used in conversation so it does not change)
3. must be italicized or underlined
What is the
purpose of
classifying?
Purpose of Classification System
1. To study relationships between living and extinct species
EX: Are dinosaurs more closely related to birds or reptiles?
2. To help identify new and existing organisms
EX: a child eats a berry from the backyard, is it poisonous?
EX: 1 tree makes a valuable chemical, maybe another similar tree
would too?
What is a
Dichotomous Key = a tool used to identify organisms
dichotomous
EX: insect key or salamander key assignments
key?
What are the
Levels of Classification
levels of
classification?
1. Domain = group of kingdoms_
2. Kingdom = taxon (group) of similar phyla
3. Phylum = taxon of similar classes
4. Class = taxon of similar orders
5. Order = taxon of similar families
6. Family = taxon of similar genera
7. genus = taxon of similar species
8. species= group of organisms that look alike and can interbreed
How are
humans
classified?
What are the
5
evolutionary
relationships
between
organisms?
Human Classification Groups
Domain = eukarya
Kingdom = animalia
Phylum = chardata
Class = mammelia
Order = primates
Family = hominidae
Genus = homo
Species = homo sapiens
1. Structural similarities (ex. Cat family has claws)
2. Breeding behavior (frogs that use different sounds)
3. Geographic distribution (location of earth (separated by an ocean?))
4. Biochemistry (similar DNA, amino acids, proteins etc.)
5. Chromosome comparison (# of chromosomes, structure of chromosomes,
genes located on chromosomes)
What is
phylogeny?
Phylogeny is the evolutionary history of a species.
What is
cladistics?
Cladistics is a system of classification based on phylogeny.
What is a
cladogram?
Cladogram is a model of the phylogeny of a species. It is similar to a family tree
but it shows probable ancestry.
In a cladogram the more closely together the species are placed the more closely
related the species are.