3.4.5 Species and taxonomy

Question 1

What is a species?

Answer 1

A group of organisms (with similar alleles + characteristics) which are capable of producing fertile offspring when breeding

Question 2

What king of offspring do closely related species reproduce?

Answer 2

Infertile hybrids

Question 3

What is phylogenetic classification based upon?

Answer 3

Evolutionary history of organisms

Question 4

How is the phylogeny classification system set up?

Answer 4

Based on evolutionary relationships between organisms and their ancestors

Classify species into groups using their shared features - homologous characteristics, derived from their ancestors

Arranged groups into hierarchy with non-overlapping groups

Question 5

What is taxonomy?

Answer 5

The science (theory and practice of biological classification) of naming organisms and organising them into groups

Question 6

What are the eight taxa of the phylogenetic classification system?

Answer 6

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 7

What is the binomial system?

Answer 7

A universal system based on Latin or Greek names

By identifying organisms by two names:

Generic name (first) - genus
Specific name (second) - species

Question 8

What are rules of the binomial system?

Answer 8

Names are in italics or underlined
First letter of generic name is underlined
If specific name is unknown - ‘sp’ is used instead

Question 9

What are the importance of courtship behaviour?

Answer 9

For species to recognise members of their own species - only mate between members to produce fertile offspring

For species to identify a mate that is capable of breeding - both need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating

For species to form a pair bond - lead to successful mating and raising of offspring

For species to become able to breed - to be in a physiological state for breeding to occur

Question 10

What is classification?

Answer 10

The grouping of organisms

Question 11

What are the two forms of biological classification?

Answer 11

Artificial classification
Phylogenetic classification

Question 12

What are homologous characteristics?

Answer 12

Features that have similar evolutionary origins regardless of the function for the species

Question 13

What is artificial classification?

Answer 13

By dividing organisms according to the feature that is observed e.g. number of legs / wings

Question 14

What are artificial classification?

Answer 14

Features that have the same function but not the same evolutionary origins