10.1 Species and taxonomy

Question 1

What is a species?

Answer 1

A group able to breed and produce fertile offspring

Question 2

How are species named and how did this change?

Answer 2

• species used to be named based on their appearance, but this led to different species having the same name
• so, now we have the universal binomial system which consists of:
  1) name that denotes the genus
  2) name that denotes the species

Question 3

How does behavior change between species?

Answer 3

• just like appearance, behavior is similar between members of the same species and is genetically determined.
• this aids recognition

Question 4

What does courtship behavior enable individuals to do?

Answer 4

• recognize members of their own species to produce fertile offspring
• Identify a mature, fertile and receptive mate (someone capable of breeding)
• Form a pair bond for successful breeding and raising of offspring
• synchronize mating so that it happens with maximum chance of sperm meeting egg
• become able to breed by bringing mate into the right psychological state.

Question 5

What is classification?

Answer 5

The grouping together of organisms

Question 6

What are the two main features of biological classification?

Answer 6

• Artificial classification

- Phylogenic classification

Question 7

Describe artificial classification.

Answer 7

Division based on differences useful at the time (arms, colour, leaf shape ETC)
These are analogous, as they have the same function but different evolutionary origins.

Question 8

Describe phylogenic classification.

Answer 8

• based on evolutionary relationships
• classifies using shared features derived from ancestors
• arranges groups into a heirarchy, then into larger groups with no overlap

Question 9

What is a taxon?

Answer 9

A group within phylogenic biological classification

Question 10

What is taxonomy?

Answer 10

the study of taxons and their position in a heirarchical order.

Question 11

What is domain?

Answer 11

the highest taxonomic rank, split into bacteria, archea and eukarya.

Question 12

What are bacteria and what are their features?

Answer 12

A group of single-celled prokaryotes with these features:

• Absence of membrane-bound organelles
• unicellular
• small ribosomes
• murein cell wall
• single loop of DNA made up of nucleic acids with no histones

Question 13

What are archea and what are their features?

Answer 13

A group of single-celled prokaryotes which resemble bacteria in appearance, but differ from them in that:

• their genes and protein synthesis are more similar to eukaryotes
• their membranes contain fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ether linkages
• no murein in their cell walls
• more complex RNA polymerase

Question 14

What are eukarya and what are their features?

Answer 14

a groups of organisms made up of one or more eukaryotic cells, their features are:

• membrane-bound organelles
• membranes containing fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ester linkages
• no murein in cell walls (where they are present)

Question 15

How are eukaryotes divides?

Answer 15

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family 
Genus
Species

Question 16

What is phyolgeny?

Answer 16

The evolutionary relationships between organisms.

- the phylogeny of an organism reflects the evolutionary branch that led up to it

Question 17

What is a phylum?

Answer 17

A group of related/similar organisms