Chapter 17: The History and Diversity of Life Section 17-2: Finding Order in Diversity
Why do we classify? A classification system identifies objects and gathers them into groups whose members are similar to each other Biological classification systems based on a logical method of naming things; group organisms based on common features
Biological Classification Biologists had to create a universal set of rules for naming organisms, allowing each species to have a universally accepted name The science of naming organisms and assigning them to groups is called taxonomy. (taxon = name group)
Biological Classification Carolus Linnaeus (Swedish botanist) developed the system of binomial nomenclature with which we identify species Binomial = two word Nomenclature = naming system
Biological Classification Each species is named used two Latin words called the GENUS and SPECIES to identify it A genus is defined as a group of related species (plural is genera) Hopefully you all remember the definition of species!
Biological Classification: Example Common house cat scientifically named Felis domesticus Felis = genus and domesticus = species Always in italics, genus capitalized When written, should be underlined
Further Classification A family = group of related genera. An order = group of related families. A class = group of related orders. A phylum = group of related classes. (In plants, division is used instead of phylum.) A kingdom is a group of related phyla.
Further Classification Looking at the house cat again: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae Genus: Felis Species: domesticus
Classification How can you remember the seven taxa? Use a pneumonic!
The Kingdoms of Life Modern classification shows common descent and evolutionary relationship By analyzing genetic, biochemical, and physical similarities, scientists have agreed on six kingdoms
The Kingdoms of Life Eubacteria Archaebacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia