4.6 Species and Taxonomy

Question 1

What is the purpose of courtship behaviours?

Answer 1

• essential for successful mating
• species recognition
• able to recognise the opposite sex
• indicated sexually mature individuals
• form a pair bond
• choose a strong healthy mate

Question 2

What is a species?

Answer 2

Two organisms that are similar to one another and capable of breeding to produce fertile offspring.

Question 3

What is the order of phylogenetic classification?

Answer 3

1. Domain
2. Kingdom
3. Phylum
4. Class
5. Order
6. Family
7. Genus
8. Species

Question 4

What does the binomial name include?

Answer 4

1. Genus 2. Species

Question 5

Why is the binomial name the preferred name used by scientists?

Answer 5

They are universally identified.

Question 6

Describe DNA hybridisation.

Answer 6

1. Collect DNA from two different species
2. Separate the strands
3. Combine/mix two strands from different species
4. Heat the hybridised strands
5. The temperature required to separate the hybrid strands indicates the relationship (higher temperature = more closely relate)

Question 7

Describe the method of immunological analysis.

Answer 7

1. Inject serum from species A into species B
2. Species B will produce antibodies specific to species A antigens
3. Inject serum from species B into other species
4. The amount of precipitation indicates the relationship. (more precipitation = more closely related)