biological classification Flashcards
define binomial name
- a system that uses the genus name and the species name to avoid confusion when naming organisms
define classification
- the process of placing living things into groups
what must each species be done before classifying them ?
- be studied in detail before being correctly placed in a group of similar organisms
why do we classify species ?
- for our convenience
- to make the study of living things more manageable
- to make it easier to identify organisms
- to help us see the relationships between species
what is taxonomy ?
- the science of classification
define taxonomy
- it involves naming organisms and organising them into groups based on similarities and differences
what is the point of taxonomy ?
- makes it easier for scientists to identify and study organisms
how many taxonomic levels does the current system of classification use ?
8
what is acronym to remember the hierarchy ?
Darling Keep Ponds Clean Or Frogs Get Sick
what are the 8 taxonomic levels ?
Domain,Kingdom,Phylum,Class,Order,Family Genus + Species
what are the 3 domains ?
- Archaea , Eubacteria and Eukaryote
who and when did they devised the system of Classification ?
Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778)
what did Carl Linnaeus devise the system from and to ?
- he devised a 3 kingdom taxonomic system –> later modified to a 6 kingdom system
what did Linnaeus classify things into ?
- living things into groups based on obvious similarities
–> large groups were subdivided into smaller group that showed closer and closer similarities
what is hierarchy ?
- a system in which large groups are split into smaller and smaller groups called a hierarchy
what are organisms classified into ?
groups which are further subdivided into yet more groups
what are organisms classified based on ?
- similar or shared features
what is nothing of within groups ?
- no overlap between groups
–> an organism must be either a bird or a reptile
cannot fall halfway between the 2
what is each group called ?
a taxon
what do biologist use to describe a species precisely ?
- use both the genus and species name
what is the bionomal name for humans ?
homosapiens (italics)
how is the binomial name written ?
- always printed in italics
(handwritten text is underlined) - the genus name always starts with a capital letter
- the species name has a small letter
why would a common name work out well ?
- as the same organism may have a completely different common name in different parts of one country
- different common names are used in different countries
- translation of languages or dialects may give different names
- the same common name may be used for different species in other parts of the world
what did Carl Linnaeus use as a universal language?
- Latin
