1. Biological Classification Why is it important?
We use classification in biology to organize the diversity of life
to illustrate the relationships among living things
to identify specific species
to provide scientific names to organisms
Without classification, it would be difficult to study life – think of the disorganized pile of clothes!

2. Biological Classification: Taxonomic Hierarchy
Note that Monera has been split into Archaebacteria and Eubacteria

3. By the end of class, you will be able to…
Explain the importance of a scientific naming system
Evaluate organisms’ relatedness based on their taxonomic hierarchy
List the 7 levels in the taxonomic hierarchy
Give a brief overview of each of the six kingdoms

4. Modern Classification
Every year, thousands of new species are discovered. 
Biologists classify newly discovered organisms with organisms having similar characteristics. 
The way we group organisms continues to change
Today these methods reflect the evolutionary history of organisms.
SCIENTISTS HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 2 MILLION SPECIES OF ORGANISMS ON EARTH, BUT ESTIMATE 40 MILLION SPECIES INHABIT THE EARTH.
SOME ESTIMATE THAT THERE MAY BE MILLIONS OF SPECIES IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST AND AN UNSPECIFIED NUMBER LIVING IN THE OCEANS YET UNDISCOVERED.

5. Who started it? Carolus Linneus Botanist Mid-1700s Uses Latin names
Created a hierarchy
Hierarchy = “tiered” or “layered”
7 levels
3 primary divisions: animal, plant, and mineral
Latin: Language of the time + Universal

6. Today, we have 8 levels of classification.
 Not from Linneus.
 Most general; many organisms
Linneus – 7 levels
Spinal cord
Species: A group of organisms capable of interbreeding, who interbreed in their natural environment, and who produce fertile offspring.
Mammary glands, fur, placenta
Ask students to share their mnemonics for remembering the levels in order: KPCOFGS
Go around the room having students repeat the hierarchy from most general to most specific
Species: A group of organisms capable of interbreeding, who interbreed in their natural environment, and which produce fertile offspring
Canine teeth
Felines
Large cats
 Most specific ; 1

8. Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Mammalia Class Order Carnivora
Point out similarities and differences at each level
Urisdae
Family
Ursus
Genus
Species
Ursus arctos

9. Where does that name come from?
Binomial nomenclature
Developed by Linneus
Latin
Most specific way to name an organism
Format: Genus species
Genus is capitalized, species is lower case
Name should be underlined or written in italics

10. Why use scientific names?
Universal – used everywhere
Common names can be confusing
Consider the pineapple. Is it a pine? Is it an apple?
Which is more poisonous: the water moccasin or the cottonmouth?
Raise your hand when you know what the following organism is:
Snake: Agkistrodon piscivorus
Pineapple: Ananas comosus

11. Raise your hand when you know…
Isopod
Sow Bug
Pill Bug
Roly Poly Bug
Scientific Name: Armadilidium vulgare

13. Let’s bring it all together…
So, why is biological classification important?
What are the 7 levels of the taxonomic hierarchy?
Which are more closely related: organisms from the same genus or organisms from the same family? Why?
Why do we use scientific names?
After question 3: use more examples- phylum or order

14. Which are more closely related on the taxonomic hierarchy: a mushroom and a squirrel -OR- a mushroom and a daisy? Why?
Bridge to kingdoms
Trick question: both are different at the kingdom level.
Hand out homework project

15. Intro to Kingdoms

16. Classification of Living Things
DOMAIN
KINGDOM
CELL TYPE
CELL STRUCTURES
NUMBER OF CELLS
MODE OF NUTRITION
EXAMPLES
Bacteria
Eubacteria
Prokaryote
Cell walls with peptidoglycan
Unicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Streptococcus, Escherichia coli
Archaea
Archaebacteria
Prokaryote
Cell walls without peptidoglycan
Unicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Methanogens, halophiles
Protista
Eukaryote
Cell walls of cellulose in some; some have chloroplasts
Most unicellular; some colonial; some multicellular
Autotroph or heterotroph
Amoeba, Paramecium, slime molds, giant kelp
Fungi
Eukaryote
Cell walls of chitin
Most multicellular; some unicellular
Heterotroph
Mushrooms, yeasts
Eukarya
Plantae
Eukaryote
Cell walls of cellulose; chloroplasts
Multicellular
Autotroph
Mosses, ferns, flowering plants
Animalia
Eukaryote
No cell walls or chloroplasts
Multicellular
Heterotroph
Sponges, worms, insects, fishes, mammals

17. Archaebacteria Often live in extreme environments Prokaryotic
Lack a distinct nucleus with nuclear membrane
Unicellular
Cell walls
Do not contain peptidoglycan
Can be autotrophs or heterotrophs

18. Eubacteria Prokaryotic Unicellular Cell wall
Made of peptidoglycan
Can be autotrophs or heterotrophs
Evolved SEPARATELY from archaebacteria!
How are they different from archaebacteria?

19. Protista Eukaryotic May be unicellular or multicellular
Membrane bound nucleus
May be unicellular or multicellular
Can be autotrophs or heterotrophs
May have chloroplasts
Cell wall may be present
Made of cellulose
What sets protists apart from archaebacteria? From eubacteria?

20. Fungi Eukaryotic Most multicellular, some unicellular Heterotrophic
Nucleus surrounded by nuclear membrane
Most multicellular, some unicellular
Heterotrophic
No chloroplasts
Cell Wall
Made of chitin

21. Plantae Eukaryotic Multicellular Cell Wall Autotroph
Nucleus with nuclear membrane
Multicellular
Cell Wall
Made of cellulose
Autotroph
Contain chloroplasts

22. Animalia Eukaryotic Multicellular No cell wall No chloroplasts
Nucleus with nuclear membrane
Multicellular
No cell wall
No chloroplasts
Heterotroph
Comparison among kingdoms- what are the key distinguishing features in each? What separates them?