1. Classifying Organisms 4/11/12

2. Classification – the process of grouping things based on their similarities.

3. Why Classify? Biologist use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.

4. Taxonomy – the scientific study of how living things are classified.

5. Early Systems of Classification Aristotle put animals into three groups: Those that fly Those that swim Those that walk, crawl, or run

6. Classification of Linnaeus Linnaeus’s naming system to classify organisms was called binomial nomenclature. 2 part names: genus and species.

7. Early Systems of Classification Genus – classification grouping that contains similar, closely related organisms. Ex. Pumas, ocelots, and house cats are all classified in the genus Felis.

8. Species – group of similar organisms that can mate and reproduce fertile offspring in nature. Ex. Pumas and mountain lions have the name Felis concolor meaning the same color.

9. 7 Levels of Classification Today Today biologists have organized organisms into 7 levels: Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti

10. Taxonomy Key Taxonomy key – series of paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of different organisms. Taxonomy key

11. Evolution and Classification Evolution – change over time. Charles Darwin (1859) – He had the idea that finches from South America flew to some islands nearby and began to change over time.