Definitions:Topic 4 Flashcards
What is classification?
The arrangement of organisms into groups of various sizes on the basis of shared features
What is taxonomy?
A form of classification that focuses on physical similarities between different species, for ease of naming and identification.
What is phylogeny?
The classification of organisms by these evolutionary relationships, so that every group shares a common ancestor
What is biodiversity?
A measure of the variety of living organisms and their genetic differences
What is evolution?
The process by which natural selection acts on variation to bring about adaptations and eventually speciation
What is morphology?
The study of the form and structure of organisms
What are analogous features?
Features that look similar or have a similar function, but are not from the same biological origin
What are homologous structures?
Structures that genuinely show common ancestry
What is a domain?
The three largest classification categories: the Eukaryota, the Bacteria and the Archaea
What is a kingdom?
the classification category smaller than domains; there are 5 kingdoms: Monera, Protists, Fungi, Plants and Animal
Define phylum (division, for plants).
A group of classes that all share common characteristics
Define class.
A group of orders that all share common characteristics
Define order.
A group of families that all share common characteristics
Define family.
A group of genera that all share common characteristics
Define genus.
A group of species that all share common characteristics
Define species.
A group of closely related organisms that are all potentially capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring
Define archea.
Domain made up of bacteria-like prokaryotic organisms found in many places including extreme conditions and the soil; they are thought to be early relatives of the eukaryotes
Define archaebacteria.
Ancient type of bacteria found in many different environments
Define eubacteria.
True bacteria (prokaryotic organisms)
Define protista.
A kingdom in the five-kingdom classification system that contains all single-celled organisms, green and
brown algae and slime moulds
Define fungi.
A eukaryotic kingdom of heterotrophs with chitin in their cell walls
Define plantae.
A mainly autotrophic eukaryotic kingdom containing mosses, liverworts, ferns, gymnosperms and angiosperms (the flowering plants)
Define animilia.
A mainly heterotrophic eukaryotic kingdom including all the invertebrates and vertebrates
