Classification Basics
The branch of biology that organizes organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.
Taxonomy
The two-part scientific naming system developed by Linnaeus.
binomial nomenclature
The study of evolutionary history and relationships among species.
phylogeny
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
What are the three domains?
A tool that helps scientists identify organisms based on physical traits using a step-by-step process.
What is a dichotomous key?
The scientist who developed the binomial nomenclature system.
Carl Linnaeus
The scientific name of an organism must be written in a specific way. What are the three requirements for how to write a scientific name?
-Italics
-Capital genus
-Lowercase species
A diagram that shows evolutionary relationships based on shared characteristics.
a cladogram
Mushrooms are part of what kingdom
Fungi
Draw an example of a cladogram and label where the organisms would go and where the traits would go.
May vary
In the levels of taxonomy, which levels are MORE BROAD than "Class".
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum
What two parts make up an organism's scientific name?
Genus and Species
Name the three domains and the six kingdoms.
Domains - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
Kingdoms - Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
This kingdom includes only autotrophic and multicellular organisms.
Plantae
A newly evolved trait that distinguishes a specific group of organisms from their ancestors.
What is a derived characteristic?
The taxa in proper order.
What is Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species?
Why is Latin used for scientific names (EX: Canis lupus) instead of common names (EX: Gray wolf)?
Latin is a universal, unchanging language that prevents confusion in naming species.
Bobcat: Lynx rufus
Lion: Panthera leo
Mushroom: Coprinus comatus
Canada Lynx: Lynx canadensis
Which two organisms are most closely related? How do you know?
Bobcat and Canada Lynx because they have the same genus
Which domain includes unicellular prokaryotes that live in extreme environments, called extremophiles?
Archaea
What is the difference between a dichotomous key and a cladogram?
A dichotomous key helps identify an organism, while a cladogram shows evolutionary relationships.
Write out the mnemonic that will help you remember the order of the taxa levels.
Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup
What is the difference between a genus and a species?
A genus includes multiple species, while a species is a single, distinct type of organism.
In the taxa levels, going from Domain to Species, the number of species (increases/decreases) and the organisms are (less/more) closely related.
Decreases and More
The difference between Protista and Plantae.
What is Protists can be unicellular or multicellular and may be autotrophic or heterotrophic, while plants are always multicellular and autotrophic
Describe how to use a dichotomous key to identify an organism.
To use a dichotomous key, start at the first paired statement and choose the description that best fits the organism, continuing through the steps until the correct identification is reached.