Download What`s in a Name?

Naming Things
2. What is a taxonomist?
A scientist that classifies organisms
3. How are organisms grouped within our classification system?
General to specific
Largest to smallest
4. What are the names of our classification groups from most general to most specific?
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
5. What happens within our hierarchical system as organism are grouped from kingdom to species?
Groups get smaller but more closely related
6. Who has more in common, two organisms that are in the same class or the same order?
Same Order smaller than class
What’s in a Name?
7. Why do taxonomists use Latin words to give organisms scientific names?
Latin is Universal language of science
8. What two classification groupings make up a scientific name?
First (Genus) Second (Species)
9. What rules apply when writing a scientific name?
Genus is capitalized Species name is not capitalized
Underlined or Italics
Ex. Ailuropoda melanoleuca
Keeping Relationships Straight
10. What characteristics/traits do scientists use when classifying organisms?
Structural Similarities – Internal and External
Genetic Similarities – DNA, genes
11. When does revision of our classification system take place? Can you give an example?
When new information/ species is discovered
Ex. Giant pandas are closer related to Bears, but Red Pandas are closer related to
Raccoons
Defining a Species
12. A species is a group of organisms that can produce fertile offspring
13. What is one key factor that distinguishes one species from another either though they may be very
closely related?
Their ability to breed and produce fertile offspring