Why are dichotomous keys useful tools for identifying organisms?
A dichotomous key provides users with a series of statements with two choices that will eventually lead to the correct identification of the organism.
phylum
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom.
taxonomy
In biology, taxonomy is the science of defining and naming groups of biological organisms on the basis of shared characteristics.
phylogenic tree
A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms. Phylogenetic trees are hypotheses, not definitive facts.
What types of evidences do scientists use to place an organism on a phylogenic tree and what does that placement tell you?
Phylogeny describes the relationships of an organism, such as from which organisms it is thought to have evolved, to which species it is most closely related, and so forth. Phylogenetic relationships provide information on shared ancestry but not necessarily on how organisms are similar or different.
class
a class is a taxonomic rank, as well as a taxonomic unit, a taxon, in that rank.
Aristotle
Aristotle's biology is the theory of biology, grounded in systematic observation and collection of data, mainly zoological, embodied in Aristotle's books on the science
dichotomous key
A dichotomous key is an important scientific tool, used to identify different organisms, based the organism's observable traits. Dichotomous keys consist of a series of statements with two choices in each step that will lead users to the correct identification.
How do dichotomous keys and phylogenetic tree help you analyze?
A dichotomous key is a diagram which helps to identify each individual in a group of organisms through a selection process of two statements. It also consists of leads and couplets. In contrast, a phylogenetic tree is a diagram, which helps to describe the evolutionary relationships of a group of related organisms.
order
the order is a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms and recognized by the nomenclature codes
Carolus Linneaus
Swedish botanist who proposed the modern system of biological nomenclature
primitive
relating to, denoting, or preserving the character of an early stage in the evolutionary or historical development of something.
Classify organisms using a dichotomous key.
give an example
family
Family is one of the eight major hierarchical taxonomic ranks in Linnaean taxonomy; it is classified between order and genus.
binomial nomenclature
a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts
evolutionary relationships
Organisms that share similar physical features and genetic sequences tend to be more closely related than those that do not. Features that overlap both morphologically and genetically are referred to as homologous structures; the similarities stem from common evolutionary paths.
Compare organisms on a phylogenetic tree in terms of relatedness and time of appearance in geologic history.
give an example
genus
A taxonomic category ranking used in biologicalclassification that is below a family and above a species level, and includes group(s) of species that are structurally similar or phylogenetically related.
kingdom/domain
In biological taxonomy, a domain is the highest order of life classification, even higher than a Kingdom.
phylogenetic
relating to the evolutionary development and diversification of a species or group of organisms, or of a particular feature of an organism.