Classification Flashcards
Define Classification
The process of naming and organising organisms into groups based on their characteristics
Name the eight groups in the classification hierarchy, from largest to smallest
Domain —> Kingdom —> Phylum —> Class —> Order —> Family —> Genus —> Species
What are the two components to a binomial name ?
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
What is an advantage of the binomial naming system ?
It is universal; an organism’s binomial name i the same everywhere in the world
Name the five kingdoms and three domains
Kingdoms = Prokaryote, Protocista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
Domains = Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryota
How are organisms classified into a kingdom ?
Based on similarities in observable characteristics
How was the domain system of classification developed ?
By analysing molecular differences between organisms to determine their evolutionary relationships (phylogeny)
What is the difference between classification and phylogeny ?
Classification is simply sorting organisms into groups. Phylogeny investigates the evolutionary relationships between organisms
Explain how natural selection results in evolution
A random mutation results in new alleles
Some of these alleles provide an advantage against selection pressures, making an individual more likely to survive and reproduce
Their offspring receive the new allele, and are their said to have evolved a new characteristics
How did Darwin and Wallace contribute to the theory of evolution ?
Observed that birds have many different beak shapes. Concluded that birds with beak shapes most suited to the food they eat are more likely to survive and therefore pass there beak shape onto their offspring
What other evidence is there for the theory of evolution
Fossils - allows us to compare extinct organisms to todays organisms
Genomic DNA - Sequencing of genomes have shown how closely related we are to primates
Molecular - Proteins are composed of the same 20 amino acids in all organisms
What causes variation ?
Genetics - Mutations, random fertilisation
Environmental- Climate, diet, culture
What is the difference between intraspecific and interspecific variation
Intraspecific = Variation within the same species
Interspecific = Variation between different species
What’s the difference between continuous and discontinuous variation
Continuous = Variation exists as a gradual changes over a range e.g. height, root length
Discontinuous = Variation exists as distinct categories e.g. blood group, bacteria shape
Spearman’s rank to calculate correlation coefficient?
To measure correlation between two variables, i.e. the extent to which changing one variable affects the other variable
