Classification

Question 1

Goal of Taxonomy

Answer 1

Grouping and naming organisms

Question 2

Levels of taxonomy

Answer 2

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 3

Species

Answer 3

Organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions and produce a fertile offspring.

Question 4

Classical Taxonomy Problems

Answer 4

Not all species reproduce sexually
Prokaryotes reproduce asexually
Even a few animals reproduce asexually

Question 5

What is phylogeny?

Answer 5

The branching of relationships between entire species.

Question 6

What is a clade?

Answer 6

A group of organisms that includes an ancestor and all descendants of that ancestor.

Question 7

For how long has life been evolving?

Answer 7

4 billion years.

Question 8

Limitations of classical taxonomy

Answer 8

Lack of resolution, can’t illustrate time, grouping are challenged by secondary loss of characteristics, ineffective with extinct species.

Question 9

Where are the descendants in a phylogeny tree?

Answer 9

Closer to the tips.

Question 10

What is speciation

Answer 10

When branches split (evolution of separate gene pools).