1. Classification the grouping of information or objects based on
Taxonomy is the science of grouping
and naming organisms.
Classification the grouping of
information or objects based on
similarities.

2. We only know about a fraction of the
organisms that exist or have existed on Earth.
Taxonomists give a unique scientific name to
each species they know about whether it’s alive
today or extinct.
The scientific name comes from one of two
“dead” languages – Latin or ancient Greek.
Why use a dead language?

3. Binomial Nomenclature
   
a two name system for writing scientific names.
The genus name is written first (always Capitalized).    
The species name is written second (never capitalized).    
Both words are
italicized if typed or underlined if hand written.
Example: Felis concolor or F. concolor
Which is the genus? The species?

4. "Formal" scientific names should have a third part, the authority
"Formal" scientific names should have a third part, the authority.     The authority is not italicized or underlined.
The authority is written as an abbreviation of the last name of the person responsible for naming the organism. Since Carolus Linnaeus was the first person to name many plants, the L. for Linnaeus is very common in plant scientific names.
An example is Quercus alba L.

5. Phylogeny, the evolutionary history of an organism, is the cornerstone of a branch of biology called systematic taxonomy.
Systematics, as systematic taxonomy is commonly called, is the study of the evolution of biological diversity.
                        

6. A phylogenetic tree (evolution tree) is a family tree that shows a hypothesis about the evolutionary relationships thought to exist among groups of organisms. It does not show the actual evolutionary history of organisms.
Why a hypothesis?

8. A phylogenetic tree based on a cladistic analysis is called a cladogram.
What derived character is shared by all the animals on the cladogram on the next slide?

10. The Dichotomous Key
A key is a device for easily and quickly identifying
an unknown organism.
The dichotomous key is the most widely used type in biological sciences.
The user is presented with a sequence of choices between two statements, couplets, based on characteristics of the organism. By always making the correct choice, the name of the organism will be revealed.

12. 1.  
A. one pair of wings
B. Two pairs of wings

13. • Domain Archaea The Three Domains Domain Bacteria Domain Eukarya
Includes newly discovered cell types
Contains 1 kingdom – the Archaebacteria
Domain Bacteria
Includes other members of old kingdom Monera
Has 1 kingdom – the Eubacteria
Domain Eukarya
Includes all kingdoms composed of organisms made
up of eukaryotic cells
– Protista
– Fungi
– Animalia
– Plantae

14. A group at any level is a taxon.
The major classification levels, from most general to most specific
(several of these have subdivisions)
A group at any level is a taxon.

15. Categories within Kingdoms
Kingdoms are divided into groups called phylum
Phylum are subdivided into classes
Classes are subdivided into orders
Orders are subdivided into families
Families are divided into genera
Genus contain closely related species
Species is unique
Categories within Kingdoms