1. Taxonomy
Biology 8(A)

2. Taxonomy Learning Objectives Define taxonomy
Understand the importance of a standardized taxonomic system
After this lesson you will be able to define the term taxonomy and recognize the importance of a standardized taxonomic system.

3. Taxonomy
Taxonomy – the branch of biology that classifies and names living things
Uses characteristics of organisms and a universal system
Every organism has a specific name
Organisms are assigned to levels of classification
Taxonomy is a branch of biology that classifies and names living things. Taxonomists use characteristics of organisms and a universal system of classification. Every organism has a specific name and is assigned to multiple nested levels of classification.

4. Common Name vs. Scientific Name
Common name – name given to an organism by the people of a certain area
Causes great deal of confusion
Examples:
Mountain lion
Puma
Cougar
Most of us call organisms by their common names. The common name is the name given to an organism by the people of a certain area who speak the same language. These common names can potentially cause a great deal of confusion because different people in different areas may call the same organism a different name. For example, a mountain lion is the same animal as a puma and a cougar.

5. Linnaeus’ System Carolus Linnaeus – Swedish botanist
who developed new classification
system that revolutionized taxonomy
Contributions
Created two-word (binomial) scientific naming system
Suggested that organisms with similar
structures be placed in same taxonomic group
Early attempts at taxonomy created long, unstandardized names. During the 1700’s, a Swedish botanist named Carolus Linnaeus developed a new classification system that revolutionized the field of taxonomy. He created a scientific naming system that we still use today in which every species has a two-word (or binomial) name. He also suggested that organisms with similar structures be placed in the same taxonomic group, allowing for comparisons across different species.

6. Common Name vs. Scientific Name
Scientific name – standard name accepted by all scientists
Binomial nomenclature – scientific naming system using Latin language
First name – genus
Second name – specific name
Both names – species
Felis concolor or Felis concolor
F. concolor or F. concolor
The scientific name of an organism is universally accepted by all scientists around the world. The two-part method of naming species is called binomial nomenclature. The first name is the “genus” and should be capitalized. The second name is the “specific name” and should be written in lower case. Both names together identify the organism’s species which should be underlined or written in italics. For example, the scientific name of a mountain lion is Felis concolor or F. concolor.

7. Levels of Taxonomy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus
Species
Taxonomists use seven levels of classification to orderly arrange all organisms. From the most general group to the most specific group, the classification levels are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. These levels are nested within one another.
For example, if two organisms are in the same order they will share the same class, phylum, and kingdom. If they are in different families, then they will also be in different genera.

8. Taxonomy Levels of Classification Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Genus
Species
Classification of Humans:
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Hominidae
Homo
Homo Sapiens
Every organism is categorized at each level. The last level is specific to each species. For example, the seven levels of classification of a human are as follows: kingdom – Animalia, phylum – Chordata, class – Mammalia, order – Primates, family – Hominidae, genus – Homo, and species – Homo sapiens. Other mammals such as dogs and cats share the first three levels of classification.
Remember that the scientific name of an organism should be italicized and contain both the genus and the specific name.

9. Taxonomy Levels of Classification Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Genus
Species
Levels of Classification
Kings
Play
Chess On
Fancy
Glass
Squares
It may help to use a mnemonic device to remember the order of taxonomic levels. The sentence “Kings play chess on fancy glass squares” will provide you with the first letter of each level.

10. Taxonomy Importance of a standardized taxonomic system
Needed to orderly classify vast diversity of organisms
Allows for universal understanding
Ability for similarities to be compared
Show common ancestry
A standardized taxonomic system is important in a number of ways. Taxonomy is needed to orderly classify the vast diversity of organisms.
Information is collected by scientists from all over the world. A standardized, or universal, system allows for universal understanding among scientists across the world, regardless of language or cultural barriers.
Taxonomy allows for similarities to be compared between organisms. If two organisms share some levels of their taxonomy, some characteristics can be inferred. For example, if two organisms are both in the class Mammalia, scientists can deduce that they will both have hair.
The taxonomic system also helps show common ancestry. If two organisms are both in the class Mammalia, they, and all other mammals, share a common ancestor.

11. Taxonomy Learning Objectives Define taxonomy
Understand the importance of a standardized taxonomic system
You should now be able to define the term taxonomy and recognize the importance of a standardized taxonomic system.