Classification And Evolution Flashcards
Define classification
The process of naming and organising organisms into groups based on their characteristics
Name the 8 groups in the classification hierarchy, from largest to smallest
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
What are the two components of 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 the advantage of the binomial naming system
It is universal: an organisms binomial name is the same everywhere in the world
Name the 5 kingdoms
Prokaryote, Protocista, Animalia, Fungi, Plantae
Name the 3 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 used 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
Random mutations results in new alleles
Some alleles provide an advantage against selection pressures, making an individual more likely to survive and reproduce
Their offspring receive the new allele, and are said to have ‘evolved’ a new characteristic
How did Darwin and Wallace contribute to the theory of evolution
Observed that birds have many different beak shapes. Concluded that birds with beaks shapes most suited to the food they eat are more likely to survive and are therefore more likely to pass this beak shape onto their offspring
Give other evidence for the theory of evolution
Fossils = allows us to compare extinct organisms to today’s organisms
Genomic DNA = sequencing of genomes has shown how closely related we are to primates
Molecular = proteins are composed of the same 20 amino acids in all organisms
What causes variation
Genetic= mutations, random fertilisation etc
Environmental = climate, diet, culture etc
Differentiate between intraspecific and interspecifc variation
Intraspecific= variation within the same species
Interspecific = variation between different species
Differentiate between continuous and discontinuous variation
Continuous= variation exists as gradual changes over a range e.g. height, root length
Discontinuous = variation exists as distinct categories e.g. blood group, bacteria shape
