Classification of species

Question 1

What is the universal method for naming organisms?

Answer 1

The binomial system

Question 2

What are organisms’ names based off?

Answer 2

The first name is based off the GENUS

The second name is based off the SPECIES

Question 3

If organisms have the same genus what does this tell a biologist about the organisms?

Answer 3

If organisms have the same genus, they are closely related

Question 4

Why do species look similar?

Answer 4

1. They have lived in similar environments
2. They may have been exposed to similar selection pressures
3. Similar alleles are produced with the same selective adavantages
4. Similar proteins are produced which create similar characteristics

Question 5

What are classification systems?

Answer 5

Classification systems are examples of hierarchies

Question 6

What is a hierarchy?

Answer 6

Hierarchies are smaller groups that are arranged within larger groups, that have no overlap between their groups

Question 7

What is each group in a hierarchy referred to as?

Answer 7

Each group is called a taxa

Question 8

What is the importance of classification systems?

Answer 8

Classification systems help with understanding relationships between organisms and keep track of changes. The systems are made to be used universally.

Question 9

What are the 8 different taxas?

Answer 9

1. Kingdom
2. Phylum
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species
8. Domain

Question 10

Sort the 8 taxas based on highest to lowest ranking:
1. Class 5. Phylum
2. Species 6. Order
3. Genus 7. Family
4. Domain 8. Phylum

Answer 10

1. Domain
2. Kingdom
3. Phylum
4. Class
5. Order
6. Family
7. Genus
8. Species

Question 11

How did scientists classify organisms prior to more modern techniques?

Answer 11

Scientists originally classified organisms based on their visible similarities. For example their appearances, behaviour or fossils

Question 12

How do scientists classify organisms using more modern and accurate classification methods?

Answer 12

Scientists can use DNA sequencing to classify organisms, mRNA sequencing, amino acid sequences and immunological information. With immunological information, self - antibody shapes can be compared to identify similarities

Question 13

What is phylogeny?

Answer 13

Phylogeny is based upon the evolutionary relationships between organisms and their ancestors.

Question 14

How do phylogenetic classification classify species?

Answer 14

Species are classified into groups using shared features derived from their ancestors