Taxonomy – the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their different characteristics
Classification – the grouping of objects or information based on similarities
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, developed the first accepted system
Carlous Linnaeus made improvements on Aristotle’s system Based on physical and structural similarities of
organisms
Binomial nomenclature – a two-word naming system Bi – two nomial – number nomenclature – name
The first word indicates the genus (uppercased)
The second word indicates the species (lowercased)
When typed, the two names are italicized Example – Canis familiaris (dog)
When handwritten, the two names are underlined Example – Gorilla gorilla (Western gorilla)
Scientific and Common Names Latin is the language of scientific names Advantages of using Latin
Not a national language The language does not change Scientific names are unique
Scientific and Common Names Common names are used as nicknames An organism may have a different common
name in different countries Scientific name – Passer domesticus Common names
U.S. and England – house sparrow Holland –huismus
Taxonomic Rankings
Taxon – a taxonomic group Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Mnemonic device
Did King Phillip Come Over For Great Spaghetti
Taxonomic Rankings
Domain – the most inclusive (largest) taxon
Species – the least inclusive (smallest)
taxon
Taxonomic RankingsClassification
Brown Bear
House Cat
DogKiller
WhaleWolf
Domain Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia
Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Chordata Chordata
Class Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia
Order Carnivora Carnivora Carnivora Cetacea Carnivora
Family Ursidae Felidae Canidae Delphinidae Canidae
Genus Ursus Felis Canis Orcinus Canis
SpeciesUrsus
arctosFelis catus
Canis familiaris
Orcinus orca
Canis lupus
Dichotomous Key
Dichotomous key – a series of questions answered by “yes” or “no”, and each question is a choice between two characteristics
A tool used in plant or animal identification
Dichotomous Key
1. a. Coin is silver in color ………………………… go to step 2b. Coin is not silver in color ………………………… go to step 4
2. a. Coin has ridges around the edge …………………… go to step 3b. Coin doesn’t have ridges around edge……………… Nickel
3. a. Coin has a picture of George Washington…………. Quarterb. Coin doesn’t have a picture of G. Washington …….. Dime
4. a. Coin has a man with a beard on it………………….. Pennyb. Coin doesn’t have a man with a beard on it………… Dollar
Candy Dichotomous Key
1. a. packaged go to step 2b. un-packaged go to step 3
2. a. boxed ?b. wrapper go to step 4
3. a. soft ?b. hard go to step 5
4. a. plastic wrapper go to step 10b. wax paper wrapper go to step 6
5. a. round shaped go to step 7b. not round shaped ?
6. a. on a stick ?b. not on a stick ?
7. a. sphere-shaped go to step 8b. oval-shaped go to step 9
8. a. multi-colored ?b. pale yellow colored ?
9. a. circular shaped (should be marked with an “s”) ?b. A little less circular shaped (should be marked with an “m”) ?
10. a. red-colored candy ?b. yellow-colored candy ?
Candy Dichotomous Key
1. a. packaged go to step 2b. un-packaged go to step 3
2. a. boxed Sugar Babiesb. wrapper go to step 4
3. a. soft Gummy Bearsb. hard go to step 5
4. a. plastic wrapper go to step 10b. wax paper wrapper go to step 6
5. a. round shaped go to step 7b. not round shaped Mike and Ikes
6. a. on a stick Dum Dum Lollipopsb. not on a stick Tootsie Rolls
7. a. sphere-shaped go to step 8b. oval-shaped go to step 9
8. a. multi-colored Gobstoppersb. pale yellow colored Unpackaged Lemon Heads
9. a. circular shaped (should be marked with an “s”) Skittlesb. A little less circular shaped (should be marked with an “m”) M&M’s
10. a. red-colored candy Atomic Fireballb. yellow-colored candy Packaged Lemon Heads
Cladogram
A branching treelike diagram used to illustrate evolutionary relationships among organisms
Kingdoms
Linnaeus established two kingdoms: Animalia and Plantae
Since then, it has expanded from two to five Monera – Prokaryotes (cells without nuclei) Protista – Eukaryotes (cells with nuclei) Fungi Plantae Animalia
Kingdoms
Today, there are six kingdoms (Monera is divided into two kingdoms) Eubacteria Archaebacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Kingdoms
Six kingdoms Eubacteria – Common bacteria Archaebacteria – “Old” bacteria Protista – The “leftover” kingdom Fungi – Mushrooms and molds Plantae - Plants Animalia - Animals
Terms to know: Prokaryote – a cell without a nucleus; a simple
cell that is small Eukaryote – a cell with a nucleus; more complex
cell that is larger than a prokaryotic cell
Terms to know: Unicellular – an one celled organism Multicellular – an organism with more than one
cell
Terms to know: Autotroph – organism that can make its own
nutrients Heterotroph – an organism that obtains its
nutrients from other organisms (can’t make its own food)
Domain Bacteria
This domain is the same as Kingdom Eubacteria
Bacteria are the most abundant organisms on Earth
Prokaryotes
Salmonella
Domain Archaea
This domain is the same as Kingdom Archaebacteria
Prokaryotes Can be found in extreme environments
Extremophiles - Salt lakes, hot springs, and ocean floors
Methanogens – Live in oxygen-free environments