Biological Classification Flashcards
What is biological classification?
The systematic categorization of living organisms based on shared characteristics.
Who is known as the father of modern taxonomy?
Carl Linnaeus.
What is the highest taxonomic rank?
Domain.
True or False: All living organisms are classified into three domains.
True.
What are the three domains of life?
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Fill in the blank: The two main criteria for classification are ______ and ______.
Morphological features and genetic relationships.
What is a species?
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Which taxonomic rank comes after family?
Genus.
What is the binomial nomenclature?
A two-part naming system for species, consisting of the genus name and species identifier.
True or False: The genus name is always written in lowercase.
False.
What does the term ‘phylogeny’ refer to?
The evolutionary history and relationships among species.
What is a dichotomous key?
A tool that allows the identification of organisms through a series of choices between two statements.
Name the five kingdoms of life as proposed by Whittaker.
Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
True or False: Viruses are classified within the five kingdoms.
False.
What type of organisms are found in the kingdom Monera?
Prokaryotic organisms, including bacteria.
What is the primary characteristic of the kingdom Fungi?
They are heterotrophic and have cell walls made of chitin.
Fill in the blank: Organisms in the kingdom Plantae are primarily ______.
Autotrophic.
What distinguishes the kingdom Animalia from other kingdoms?
Animals are multicellular, heterotrophic organisms that lack cell walls.
What is the importance of classification in biology?
It helps organize and make sense of the diversity of life, aiding in communication and research.
What is a taxon?
A group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms that form a unit.
Which taxonomic rank is directly below the domain?
Kingdom.
True or False: All organisms in the same genus are closely related.
True.
What is the primary method used to classify organisms in modern taxonomy?
Phylogenetic analysis.
What does the term ‘symbiotic relationship’ refer to?
A close and long-term interaction between two different biological species.
Fill in the blank: The classification system used today is known as ______ classification.
Hierarchical.
What is the role of a taxonomist?
To identify, describe, and classify organisms.