1. Biological Classification
Chapter 17 Section 1 Notes

2. Taxonomy
Taxonomy – classification of an organism based on several key features
Key Features Include:
Structure
Behavior
Life Cycle
Genetic Make Up (DNA)
Nutritional Needs
Method of Obtaining Food

3. Levels of Classification
Organisms are classified into categories that start out broad and become more specific
Levels of Classification:
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Dear King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

4. Levels of Classification
There are 3 Domains (Eukaryota, Archaea, and Eubacteria)
The domains are broken into 6 Kingdoms
Each kingdom is divided into Phylums
Phylums are divided into Classes
Classes are broken into Orders
Orders divide into Families
Individuals are then named by their Genus and Species
Species is the most specific category
Organisms of the same species are grouped together based on their ability to breed and produce fertile offspring

5. Taxonomy and Evolution
Evolutionary theory is the basis for our classification system
The more closely related a species, in terms of evolution, the more levels of classification an organism will share in common.
Which organisms below are more closely related?
Example:
Human
Grasshopper
Dog
Kingdom
 Animalia
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Arthropoda
Class
Mammalia
Insecta
Order
Primate
Orthoptera
Carnivora
Family
Homindae
Locuslidea
Canidae
Genus
Homo
Schistocerca
Canis
Species
sapiens
americana
familiaris

6. Binomial Nomenclature
Our current classification system was created by Carolous Linnaeus in 1750
Called Binomial Nomenclature
Linnaeus wanted to catalog all known living organisms
Uses a two-word naming system for organisms
“Bi” means 2 and “nomial” means name

7. Rules of Binomial Nomenclature
Names are written in latin
Considered an organism’s scientific name
Includes two names
First word: Genus
Second word: Species
The entire scientific name is italicized or underlined
The genus name is capitlized
After the name has been used once it may be abbreviated with the genus as just the first letter
Example: Homo sapiens
Abbreviation: H. sapiens
Helps to avoid confusion of organisms if using common names which change based on location and native language