4.5 Species and Taxonomy

Question 1

Define species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

What are the advantages of courtship behaviour?

Answer 2

Individuals can recognise sexually mature members of their own species of the opposite sex, can synchronise mating, form a pair bond and successfully breed

Question 3

Define classification

Answer 3

The process of arranging organisms into groups

Question 4

Name the 8 groups an organism can be classified into, from largest to smallest

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What system is used to give species a universal name?

Answer 5

Binomial naming system

Question 6

What are the two components to a binomial name?

Answer 6

• Generic name = the genus the organism belongs to. Two closely related species will share the same genus
• Specific name = the species the organism belongs to

Question 7

How are binomial names handwritten?

Answer 7

• The first letter of the generic name should be capitalised, with the rest in lowercase
• The whole name should be underlined

Question 8

What is a phylogenic classification?

Answer 8

The process of arranging organisms into groups based on their evolutionary origins and relationships

Question 9

How can we clarify evolutionary relationships between organisms?

Answer 9

• Analyse their differences
• Advances in immunology/genome sequencing provide clear pictures of how related two organisms are

Question 10

Explain hierarchical classification

Answer 10

• Groups within groups
• No overlaps between groups