Classification of Living Things

Need for Classification Living things have characteristics in common such as the

functions or activities that are necessary to maintain life. However, these functions and activities differ.

These differences indicate a great variety, called biodiversity, among living things.

In order to study living things in an organized and efficient way, biologists find it necessary to classify or group organisms in a logical way.

The most common basis for classifying organisms is similarities in structure.

Basis for Classification

Family Delphinidae

Melon-headed Whale

Orca (Killer Whale),

Such as the exoskeleton, appendages, organs, or cellular structures (chloroplasts, nuclei).

Can you differentiate between Monera and Protists?

Biochemical and genetic similarities, in patterns of embryological development, and fossil evidence are also used for classification.

Our modern classification system assumes that present day forms of life developed from earlier forms.

The kingdom is the largest classification group.

What are the five kingdoms? Use your fingers to explain.

Modern System of Classification

Most biologists group organisms into a five-kingdom system:Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plant, and Animal.

But, in 1990 “domains” added to classification system…….

1. The presence or absence of a nuclear membrane within the cell.

1. Whether the organism is unicellular or multicellular.

1. Type of nutrition.

The five-kingdom system is basedon the following standards:

Subdivisions of Kingdoms The members of each kingdom share some

major characteristics, but differences exist. Therefore, each kingdom is subdivided into

smaller and smaller groups. Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species – Includes all organisms of the same kind that

can reproduce!

Can you give an acronym? An acronym is a

word formed by the initial letters of a phrase or title

King = Kingdom, Philip = Phylum, Came = Class

Over = Order For = Family Good = Genus Soup = Species.

Aristotle

Classified over 500 animal species and dissected over fifty animals.

How do you think he classified dolphins?

Why?

A Swedish botanist in the Mid 1700’s devised the most commonly used classification system.

This system separates organisms into smaller and smaller subgroups based on similar characteristics.

Carolus Linnaeus“Father of Taxonomy”

Common names are not used, Why? Latin is used for scientific naming because it is the

universal language of science and it is accepted worldwide.

Scientific Names

Can you give an example?

mongoose

bull frog

elephant shrew

guinea pig

Binomial Nomenclature – consist of a genus and species name for each organism.

These names are written in italics.

The genus name is capitalized and the species name is not capitalized.

Homo sapiens………….manCanis familaris...............dog

Bottle-nosed dolphin classification

What 3 things can binomial nomenclature tell us?

Echinacea tennesseensis

Ursus maritimus

Struthio camelus

Salmonella bongori

Rod-shaped, bacteria

Strigiphilus garylarsoni

A louse names by a fan….

Starting with “domain” give the classification system in order to the smallest “species.”

What are three things that might know based upon the species name?

Who is credited with the first classification system? Explain how he classified life.

Why is classification important in biology?

What are criteria used for classification of life?

What do you think is the best criteria and why?