1.3 Chapter Questions - Kingdoms & Domains

Question 1

What led scientists to add the taxa “Domain” to the modern classification system?

Answer 1

Scientists were led to add “Domain” to the modern classification system because they needed a broader classifications beyond just their physical structure.

Question 2

List the similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Answer 2

Similarities
Both are unicellular, prokaryotic exclusively is unicellular and eukaryotic has some unicellular.

Differences
Prokaryotic is small, simply composed, single-celled, lacks a membrane-bound nuclei, and DNA floats wherever. Meanwhile, eukaryotic is large, complex,multicellular, possess membrane-bound nuclei that contains the DNA.

Question 3

Cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, are classified in the kingdom Bacteria. Cyanobacteria make their own food using carbon dioxide, water, and energy from sunlight. They contain the pigment chlorophyll and another pigment that is blue. Explain why scientists in the early days of taxonomy would likely have classified cyanobacteria in the kingdom Plantae.

Answer 3

Blue-green algae may have been classified with the Plantae kingdom at first due to the basis of their physical structure. However, as scientists’ technology has progressed it was reclassified correctly.