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Bio L6 (4) Classification and evolution > Classification and taxonomy > Flashcards

Classification and taxonomy Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is a species?

A

A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.

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2
Q

How are species named?

A

Binomial system.

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3
Q

Explain the role of courtship behaviours and why they are necessary?

A

To find a compatible mate (same species and different sex) to interbreed with, and to identify sexually mature mates.

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4
Q

What is the mnemonic used for the order of the taxas?

A 
Kelly - Kingdom
Please - Phylum
Come - Class
Over - Order
For - Family
Great - Genus
Stew - Species
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5
Q

What is the aim of a phylogenetic classification system?

A

Attempts to arrange species into groups (taxas) based on their evolutionary origins and relationships.

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6
Q

What is the binomial name of an organism constituted of?

A

The Genus and the Species.

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7
Q

What is the binomial name for a human?

A

Homo sapien
Homo = genus
sapien = species
(Genus always capital and species always lowercase!)

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8
Q

T / F - Some specific taxas overlap.

A

False - Taxas can never overlap.

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9
Q

What is the highest taxa on the classification system?

A

Kingdom.

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10
Q

What are the five kingdoms that an organism can be in?

A
  • Animalia
  • Plantae
  • Fungi
  • Protoctista
  • Prokaryotae
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11
Q

What is a class?

A

A group of organisms that all posses the same general traits.

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12
Q

Why would a spider be found in the arachnida class but a fruit fly belong to the insecta class?

A

Because they have a different number of legs.

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13
Q

In 1990, Carl Woese added another taxa to the classification system, what is this taxa and where does it lie?

A

It is the Domain taxa and it is the highest on the system (before kingdom). It consists of three groups, bacteria, archae and eukaryotae.

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14
Q

Which kingdoms can be found in the eukaryotae domain?

A
  • Animalia.
  • Plantae.
  • Fungi.
  • Protoctista.
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15
Q

What is the phylum?

A

A major subdivision of the kingdom which contains all the groups of organisms that have the same body plan.

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16
Q

What taxa groups together all organisms that contain a backbone?

A

A phylum called the chordata.

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17
Q

How does the binomial nomenclature system work?

A

It gives a Latin name which is composed of the genus and the species.

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18
Q

What must be remembered when the binomial name of an organism is being written?

A

The genus must have a capital and the species must have a lower case, (e.g Equus ferrus).

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19
Q

What method of classification was first used?

A

Morphology.

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20
Q

What problems were there with morphology?

A

Some visual characteristics are polygenic (controlled by more than one gene) so hard to distinguish one change from another.
Some visual changes are caused by the environment and might not have anything to do with genetics.

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21
Q

What was morphology?

A

The classification of animals based upon their anatomy and bone structure, it was thought that similar species must have similar bone structures.

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22
Q

As scientific techniques progressed we have moved away from morphology towards more scientific techniques.
What are these techniques?

A
  • Genetic comparisons
  • Protein comparisons
  • Immunological comparisons
  • Courtship behaviours
23
Q

How do we classify organisms using DNA comparisons?

A
  • DNA is extracted from an individual.
  • Each nucleotide is ‘tagged’ a different colour.
  • Computers then read the colours of nucleotides.
    When one species gives arise to another during evolution, the DNA will be very similar. Therefore, those species with closely related DNA are more closely related.
24
Q

What is the role of Introns and Extrons in DNA comparisons?

A

Extrons are used for classification as the sequences will be very similar within a species, whereas intron sequences can vary massively within a species and therefore not helpful in comparisons.

25
Q

T / F - DNA comparisons can also be done through the comparison of mRNA.

A

True - We know that mRNA is coded for by the DNA so we can measure the genetic diversity by reading mRNA strands aswell.

26
Q

How can protein comparisons be used to classify organisms?

A

Proteins are determined by DNA sequences so we can compare them between organisms.

27
Q

Which protein is common amongst all animals.?

A

Haemoglobin

28
Q

Prior knowledge check:
Which word is used to describe the nature of genetic code that explains how each of the 20 a.a’s is coded for by more than one triplet on DNA?

A

Degenerate.

29
Q

What is agglutination?

A

Agglutination is the clumping of particles.

30
Q

What is the principle behind immunological comparisons?

A

The fact that antibodies of one species will respond to specific antigens on proteins in the blood serum of another.

31
Q

How does an immunological comparison work?

A
  • Serum albumin is injected from species A into species B.
  • Species B produces antibodies specific to all the antigen sites on the albumin from species A.
  • Serum is extracted from species B; containing the specific antibodies.
  • Serum from species B is mixed with the blood of a third species.
  • The antibodies respond to their corresponding antigens on the albumin in the serum of species C.
  • The greater number of similar antigens, the less precipitate is formed and the more closely the species are related.
32
Q

Identify an area where the species definition is problematic:

A

Species that reproduce asexually cannot fit into the definition.

33
Q

Under the phylogenetic species concept (PSC) how are species classified?

A

Species are determined through shared derived traits.

34
Q

Describe one problem with the phylogenetic species concept (PSC):

A

It can lead to proliferation of species that are hard to distinguish.
or
It is difficult to justify its application to morphologically distinct but interbreeding populations.

35
Q

Describe a situation where the PSC would be more appropriate than the BSC:

A

When studying asexually reproducing organisms such as bacteria.

36
Q

Why might courtship behaviours be necessary prior to mating?

A

To assess the suitability, quality and readiness of a mate and an effective way of ensuring reproductive isolation.

37
Q

Why is courtship behaviour often ritualised, with stereotypical displays?

A

SO that they are easily recognised and a response can be made in the prospective mate.

38
Q

What is the role of courtship behaviour in species recognition?

A

It ensures that species do not mistakenly waste resources by mating with another species.

39
Q

What is he two part naming system for classifying organisms?

A

Binomial nomenclature.

40
Q

What are the two parts of the binomial name?

A

Genus and Species (generic and specific name).

41
Q

What is the human genus?

A

Homo

42
Q

What is the human species?

A

Sapiens

43
Q

What is the human order?

A

Primates

44
Q

What is the human class?

A

Mammalia

45
Q

What are the advantages of a scientific name (as opposed to a common name)?

A
  • Avoids confusion over the use of common names.
  • Provides a unique name for each type of organism.
  • Attempts to define evolutionary relationships (phylogeny).
46
Q

Classification (Definition:)

A

The grouping together of things on the basis of features they have in common.

47
Q

T / F:

The ability to classify things is probably essential to our survival.

A

True, without the ability to classify we would be overwhelmed by the chaos and confusion of dealing with an endless number of individual things.

48
Q

Who was responsible for naming about 12,000 different species?

A

Carl Linnaeus, (1707-78).

49
Q

What are the two types of classification systems?

A

Artificial and Natural classification systems.

50
Q

What are artificial classifications?

A

They group organisms for convenience, based on observed features, such as where the organisms live, their colour or size.

51
Q

What are natural classifications?

A

The attempt to group organisms according to their evolutionary relationships or phylogeny.

52
Q

What is the study of the classification of life?

A

Taxonomy.

53
Q

What is the concern of taxonomists?

A

Deciding how organisms are placed into groups, but also with nomenclature.

Bio L6 (4) Classification and evolution (7 decks)

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