Classification

What is classification?

___________________________ - putting things into orderly groups based on similar physical characteristics

• ________________________ - the science of naming and classifying living things

The History of Classification

• __________________________(B.C.)

• the first to classify organisms• classified ALL organisms as either plant or animal• Grouped by physical characteristics:

Example: hair or no hair

_______________________________ (1700s) • “Father of Taxonomy” • Created a system of naming and grouping organisms • based on similarities in structure• Based names on __________________Linnaeus ALSO gave us…..______________________ __ _________________________

• ______ word names• Based on Latin and Greek• First word is capitalized; second word is not• Both words should be underlined or italicized

Example: Felis domesticus Today, scientists use a system similar to Linnaeus’s system with 8 levels of classification based on common characteristics • Levels Acronym Example• (Humans) • Domain dancing Eukarya • Kingdom kangaroos Animalia • Phylum prefer Chordata • Class candy Mammalia • Order over Primate • Family fancy Hominididae • Genus green Homo • Species spaghetti sapiens• Scientific name: Homo sapiens (Genus + species)

• Based on evolutionary history: where did it come from and how has it _______________over time?

• Scientists look at – Similarities in ____________________(Does it have skin or scales or fur or feathers?)– Similarities in hereditary information ____________________– Similarities in _____________________ (Does this insect have a caterpillar stage like a

butterfly?) • every organism to the RIGHT of the characteristic has that characteristic• every organism to the LEFT of the characteristic DOES NOT have the characteristic• Organisms that share more characteristics are more _______________ ___ ___________