Identification and taxomony Flashcards
How can an organism be identified?
By using classification guides, biological keys or analysis of DNA or protein.
How can organisms be classified?
Taxonomy and phylogenetics
What does taxonomy involve?
It involves the identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics
Classic taxonomy classification is based on morphology
What is phylogenetics?
It is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms.
What heritable traits does phylogenetics use?
Uses heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences, and protein structure to make inferences about an organisms evolutionary history and create a phylogeny. ( phylogenetic tree)
What does familiarity of taxonomic groups allow?
Predictions and inferences to be made about the biology of an organism from model organisms.
Nematodes
These are the flatworms. They have bilateral symmetry, internal organs but no body cavity. Many are parasitic
Arthropods
These are the joint legged invertebrates with segmented bodies ( all insects, spiders, scorpions, crustaceans, millipedes and centipedes)
Chordates
This includes the sea squirts and all the vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals)
What are model organisms?
Those that are either easily studied or have been well studied.
Examples of model organisms
E.coli bacterium
Nematode C. elegans
Mice, Rats, and zebrafish
Why are model species useful?
information obtained from them can be applied to other species that are more difficult to study directly.
