Title of Notes: Classification of Living Things p. 30 & 31 RS

What is classification? Classification is the grouping of living organisms according to similar structures and functions.

Early classification systems Aristotle grouped animals according to the way they moved

The modern classification system Kingdom Phylum Class Order Developed by Carolus Linnaeus Consists of 7 levels: Kingdom is the broadest Family Genus Species Species are more closely related and commonly can breed to produce offspring.

Helpful way to remember the 7 levels (mnemonic for taxonomy) King Philip Came Over For Grape Soda. King Philip Came Over For Green Skittles. Create your own

Binomial Nomenclature Developed by Carolus Linnaeus Two-name system: First name is the organism’s genus Second name is the organism’s species

What rules are used to write scientific names? The first letter of the genus is ALWAYS capitalized The first letter of the species is NEVER capitalized Scientific names of organisms are always italicized or underlined

Using the Classification System Field guides help identify organisms. -they highlight differences between similar organisms (like trees) Taxonomic Key (Dichotomous Key) -paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of different organisms

Dichotomous key It is a key used for the identification of organisms based on a series of choices between alternative characters.

What steps would you use to identify a peach? Dichotomous Key 1a Fruits occur singly ....................................................... Go to 3 1b Fruits occur in clusters of two or more ......................... Go to 2 2a Fruits are round ....................................................... Grapes 2b Fruits are elongate ................................................... Bananas 3a Thick skin that separates easily from flesh .............Oranges 3b Thin skin that adheres to flesh .............................. Go to 4 4a More than one seed per fruit ............................ Apples 4b One seed per fruit ............................................ Go to 5 5a Skin covered with velvety hairs .................... Peaches 5b Skin smooth, without hairs ........................... Plums What steps would you use to identify a peach?

DICHOTOMOUS KEY VIDEO (2:38) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M51AKJqx-7s

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among Cladograms A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among A group of organisms.

How to read a Cladogram Descendants characteristics Common ancestor Note that this diagram is also a timeline. The older organism is at the bottom of the tree. The descendants at the top of the tree are DIFFERENT species. This is called SPECIATION

Branches on the tree represent SPECIATION, the formation of a new species. The event that causes the speciation is shown as the fork of the “V”.

Species B and C each have characteristics that are unique only to them. But they also share some part of their history with species A. This shared history is the common ancestor.

Create your own mnemonic for the 7 levels p. 30 LS Must have the word and a picture Must have color