Classification Basics
What do scientists use to classify living things?
Characteristics that living things share.
What is one physical characteristic scientists compare?
Wings, antennae, beak, or feathers.
What is the highest level of classification?
Domain.
Which kingdom consists of multicellular organisms that have cell walls?
Plantae.
How can classification systems change over time?
As new data are collected, the number of kingdoms may change.
Which scientist created a naming system for living things?
Carolus Linnaeus.
How do scientists determine if organisms are related?
By comparing physical and genetic characteristics.
Name one of the three domains of life.
Bacteria, Archaea, or Eukarya.
Are fungi autotrophs or heterotrophs?
Heterotrophs.
What is a cladogram?
A branching diagram that shows relationships among species.
What is the main purpose of classification?
To organize living things and understand their relationships.
What do skeletal structures help scientists understand?
The evolutionary relationships between organisms.
What is the difference between genus and species?
Genus is a group of similar species; species is a group of organisms that can mate and produce fertile offspring.
What characteristic do all animals lack?
Cell walls.
What does a dichotomous key do?
It uses paired statements to identify organisms.
What are the two parts of a scientific name?
Genus and species.
What type of organisms do prokaryotes include?
Bacteria and archaea.
What are the four kingdoms in Eukarya?
Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia.
How do plants primarily get their nutrients?
Through photosynthesis (autotrophy).
Why was Linnaeus’ system limited?
It does not represent the evolutionary relationships we understand today.
How do classification levels change as you get more specific?
There are fewer kinds of living things at each level as you go from domain to species.
How does DNA help classify organisms?
Organisms with similar gene sequences are likely related.
What is taxonomy?
The science of describing, classifying, and naming living things.
Do protists reproduce sexually, asexually, or both?
Both.
How many kingdoms are there currently?
Four kingdoms in Eukarya plus Bacteria and Archaea, totaling six.