Chapter 3, Lesson 2: Classifying Life Flashcards
Why do biologist classify organisms?
Biologists use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.
What is the process of grouping things based on their similarities?
Classification.
What is the scientific study of how organisms are classified?
Taxonomy.
What is one reason taxonomy is useful?
A scientist knows a lot of information about an organism, once that organism is classified
What Swedish botanist, who lived in the 1730s, devised a system of naming organisms that is still used today?
Carolus Linnaeus.
What is the system were each organism is given a unique, two-part scientific name?
Binomial nomenclature.
What what did Carolus Linnaeus do?
He placed organisms in groups based on their observable features.
What is a classification grouping that contain similar grossly related organisms?
Genus.
What is the first word in an organisms scientific name?
Genus.
What are the rules of using binomial nomenclature in text?
A complete scientific name is written in italics. Only the first letter of the first word in a scientific name is capitalized.
What does the second word in the binomial nomenclature of an organism describe?
A distinctive feature of an organism.
What are the levels of classification?
From broadest to most specific levels of organization: domain, kingdom, phylum, classes, order, family, genus, species.
How are taxonomic keys useful?
Taxanomic keys are useful tools that help determine the identity of organisms.
