Classification of Organisms Chapter 14-1

Why do we classify things??? Give some examples

Taxonomy Science of naming/classifying organisms

Early Classification 2000 years ago-Aristotle (greek philosopher) Grouped according to structural similarities Problems? Penguins? Amphibians? Later-Greeks & Romans Grouped into specific categories Each group = Genus (Latin for group) Ex: dogs, oaks, horses, bees Many types in one category

Early Classification (cont) 1700’s- Polynomials (many names) Used many Latin descriptive names Problems? Bulky, confusing, names changed a lot

Early Classification (cont) 1750’s – Carl Linnaeus  Binomial Nomenclature Two-word naming system (simpler) Genus name + descriptive word (Latin) Most still used today

The classification of an organism is based on what two concepts? Physical Traits Similar traits (homologous/vestigial structures) suggest common anscestors Phylogeny An organisms evolutionary history

Current Classification Groups Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species mnemonic Did King Phillip Come Over For Good Spaghetti

Scientific Name Genus species Genus = capitalized Species = lower case Always italicized or underlined Ex: Escherichia coli Or E. coli

Make Your Own Mnemonic Device On a half sheet of computer paper Come up with your own mnemonic device School Appropriate! Add color diagram/pictures Must be neat enough to display Extra credit for most creative/memorable D, K, P, C, O, F, G, S