Download Classification of Living Organisms

Classification of
Living
Organisms
Learning Outcome B1
Learning Outcome B1
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Apply the Kingdom System of classification to
study the diversity of organisms.
Student Achievement
Indicators
Students who have fully met this learning
outcome will be able to:
 Explain how the following principles are used
in taxonomy to classify organisms:
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evolutionary relationships
biochemical relationship
homologous structures
embryological relationships
Compare characteristics of prokaryotic cells
with those of eukaryotic cells
Student Achievement
Indicators

Describe the unifying characteristic of organisms in
each of the following kingdoms:
 Monera
 Protista
 Fungi
 Plantae
 Animalia
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Classify selected organisms using the following taxons:
kingdom, phylum (sub-phylum), class, order, family,
genus and species
Apply binomial nomenclature to name selected
organisms
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Taxonomy: Scientific
Classification
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The science of classifying organisms is
taxonomy
Scientific classification refers to how biologists
categorize extinct and living species
Carolus Linnaeus modelled modern
classification by grouping species according
to shared physical characteristics.
These groupings have been revised to
improve consistency between Darwin’s
principle of common decent.
Early Classification Systems
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
 Classified animals based on their means of
transportation
 Example – land, water or air
Jan Swammerdam (1637-1680)
 A Dutch naturalist and microscopist; was
among the first to recognize cells in animals
and view red blood cells.
Early Classification Systems
Robert Hooke (1635-1702)
 English scientist that observed the cellular
structure of cork with an early microscope.
John Ray (1627-1705)
 Was an English naturalist who worked on
plant, animal and natural theology.
 His classification of plants in “Historia
Plantaruim” was an important step towards
modern taxonomy.
 He classified plants according to similarities
Early Classification Systems
Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778)
 A Swedish botanist who proposed the modern
system of biological nomenclature.
 He assigned names to plants and animals using a
two part system known as binomial nomenclature
 Each organism received a two part latin name
(aka scientific name)
 Example - Homo sapien
 Common language for scientists
 First name is genus and groups similar organism
(capitalized)
 Second part is the species
 Two part name indicated similarities in anatomy,
embryology and likely evolutionary ancestry
Carolus Linneus
Linnaeus System
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Basis for Classification
 Taxonomists
use phylogenetic trees to
show evolutionary relationships among
biological groups.
 All organisms are descendants of a
common ancestor – the basic cell.
 So all organisms, living or extinct are
related to some degree.
 Today scientists use fossil records and
biochemistry to classify relationships
between organisms.
Phylogenetic Tree
Basis for Classification
 Dichotomous
keys are used to identify
organisms; these keys list specific
observable traits.
 For each trait the key list two contrasting
traits.
 See pg. 197
 Extinction is the natural by product of
evolution however the rate of extinction
has significantly increased in the late
decade
Five Kingdoms of Life
 This
classification is constantly changing
Kingdom Monera
 Includes bacteria and cyanobacteria
(blue-green algae)
 Unicellular
 Prokaryotic
Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Protista
Five Kingdoms of Life
Kingdom Protista
 Includes algae and protozoa
 Unicellular
 Eukaryotic
Five Kingdoms of Life
Kingdom Fungi
 Includes mushrooms, yeast and bread
molds
 Unicellular and multicellular
 Eukaryotic
Kingdom Fungi
Five Kingdoms of Life
Kingdom Plantae
 Includes seaweed, mosses, ferns, conifers
and flowering plants
 Multicellular
 Eukaryotic
Kingdom Plantae
Five Kingdoms of Life
Kingdom Animalia
 Includes the sponges, worms, lobster,
starfish, wolves and humans
 See pg 198
 Multicellular
 Eukaryotic
Kingdom Animalia
Other Theory: Six Kingdoms of
Life
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A six kingdom system is often used.
An additional kingdom known as the Kingdom
Archae, which includes ancient bacteria that
live in extreme environments
The five kingdoms of living things are divided
into two major groups: the prokaryotes and
eukaryotes.
There is 1 kingdom of prokaryote, while there is
4 kingdoms of eukaryotes.
Eukaryotes have a separate membrane
bound nucleus, numerous mitochondria and
other organelles
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus or
membrane bound organelles
Kingdom Archae
Possible 6th kingdom. This pictures
shows a type of bacteria that
lives in extreme environments
such as oceanic vents.
This type of bacteria is known as
a halophile