Classification and Evolution Flashcards
(100 cards)
What is Linnean classification?
Classifying organisms by shared characteristics
What are the groups in Linnean classification?
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
How did Carl Linnaeus classify organisms?
He revolutionised modern taxonomy, by implementing a standardised binomial (genus and species) naming system for animal and plant species
How did Robert Whittaker classify organisms?
First to propose the five kingdom taxonomic classification of the world’s biota
How did Carl Woese classify organisms?
Defined archea as a new domain of life in 1977 by phylogenetic taxonomy
What are the three reasons for classifying organisms?
- Identify species
- Predict the characteristics of unidentified new species
- Discover evolutionary links and common ancestors
What are the rules for a taxon’s name?
- A binomial name in Latin
- Printed in italics or underlined when handwritten
- Upper case letter begins first name and a lower case letter begins the species name
What is a species?
A group of organisms that are able to reproduce to produce fertile offspring
What are the five kingdoms?
1) Prokaryotae (bacteria)
2) Protoctista
3) Fungi
4) Plantae
5) Animalia
What are kingdoms?
A taxonomic rank
What are the features of a prokaryote?
- Lacks a nuclear membrane enclosed nucleus
- No membrane bound organelles
- Nutrients absorbed through cell surface membrane
- Asexual and reproduce by binary fission
What is a protist?
Any eukaryotic organism that is not an animal, plant or fungus
What are the features of protists?
- Unicellular (mainly)
- Have a nucleus and other membrane bound organelles
- Some are sessile, some are mobile
- Nutrients are absorbed by photosynthesis as AUTOTROPHS or by ingestion of other organisms as HETEROTROPHS
WHt are the features of fungi?
- Nucleus and other membrane bound organelles
- Cell wall made from CHITIN
- No chloroplasts or chlorophyll
- Sessile
- Body called a MYCELIUM made from threads or HYPHAE
- nutrients acquired by absorption so are SAPROPHYTIC (some are parastitic)
- Have GLYOCGEN RESERVES
What are the features of plants?
- Nucleus and other membrane bound organelles
- Cell wall made from CELLULOSE
- All contain chlorophyll
- Most are sessile, some are motile (cilia and flagella)
- Nutrients acquired by photosynthesis so are AUTOTROPHIC
- have STARCH RESERVES
What are the features of animals?
- Multicellular
- Nucleus and other membrane bound organelles
- No cell walls or chloroplasts or chlorophyll
- Motile by using muscle tissue, cilia or flagella
- Nutrient acquired by ingestion so are HETEROTROPHIC
- Have GLYCOGEN RESERVES
How have classification systems changed?
-Modern classification systems combine observable features with evolutionary history or relationships of organisms due to the progression of science helping provide evidence
WHat is the evidence for evolutionary history and relationships?
- Genetics (DNA and RNA sequences)
- Comparative biochemistry (difference between proteins like haemoglobin in the great apes)
What are the three domains?
- Bacteria
- Archaea
- Eukarya
How were organisms classified into domains?
1) Base sequences in RNA
2) Size of ribosomes
3) Cell membrane lipid structure
4) Sensitivity to antibiotics
How does the three domain change prokaryotes?
Splits them up into Bacteria/Eubacteria and Archea
What are the characteristics of bacteria? (domain)
- 70S ribosomes
- RNA polymerase has 5 subunits
What are the characteristics of archaea? (domain)
- 70S ribosomes but closer to eukaryotic ribosomes in base sequence
- RNA polymerase varies between 8 and 10 subunits
- Ancient bacteria
What are the characteristics of eukarya? (domain)
- 80S ribosomes
- RNA polymerase has 12 subunits