Classification of living organisms

Question 1

Who is considered the father of classification

Answer 1

Carl Linnaeus (1707 -1778) a Swedish botanist developed the binomial method of naming organisms

Question 2

What is classification?

Answer 2

Putting living organisms into groups with similar characteristics

Question 3

Identify the classification groups in order.

Answer 3

Keeping Precious Creatures Organised For Grumpy Scientists

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Question 4

What are the 5 kingdoms

Answer 4

Originally only 3 we now classify living creatures into 5 kingdoms

Animals 
Plants
Fungi
Protists
Prokaryotes

Question 5

How does the binomial system of classification name organisms?

Answer 5

By their genus and species  
Examples all the big cats belong to the genus panthera, this is represented by the letter P, each species is named
P leo - lion
P tigris - tiger
P onca - jaguar

Question 6

What two phylum are animals divided into

Answer 6

Vertebrates and Invertebrates

with and without backbones

Question 7

What are the 5 classes of vertebrates

Answer 7

Mammals
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds 
Fish

Question 8

What are the limitations of the original system of classification

Answer 8

1. It was organised on the basis of appearance rather than their genome
2. There are species such as salamanders which can produce fertile offspring when they mate with other species, breaking the rule for definition of a species

Question 9

Describe the 3 domain system of classification proposed by Carl Woese

Answer 9

Woese used molecular analysis of the genome to produce his 3 domains

1. Eukaryota - all animals plants fungi and protists
2. Bacteria
3. Archaea - primitive bacteria found in extreme environments