Introduction To Classification/Binomial Nomenclature Flashcards
What is the unity of life?
The concept that all organisms are basically alike in the life functions they perform.
What is the diversity of life?
The concept of the great variety in the way that different organisms carry on the life functions they perform.
Why do we classify?
There are 1.5 million different species on earth and classification provides scientists with a means for grouping and sorting these organisms for greater study. Shows us that certain species share common traits.
What did Aristotle classify organisms based on?
Two groups, plants and animals
Were initial attempts at classification successful? Why/why not?
Not completely, bc as more and more organisms were discovered, people realized not everything fit into any one category.
Why is Aristotle’s classification not completely accurate?
There is no place for microorganisms.
Which scientist improved Aristotle’s classification?
Carolus Linnaeus
The improver upon Aristotle-what did he do?
Arranged the organisms in a way they could be easily identified by using more groups then just plants and animals, basing his system on specific traits, and gave the organisms names that described their traits.
How many kingdoms are there? What are they?
- Eubacteria, archaebacteria, protista, plantae, fungi, animalia
What is the system of categories used?
Life; kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, species.
How are the system of categories organized? How does this make things easier?
From broad to specific. Having so many categories makes it easier to place an organism correctly.
What are monera?
Single celled organisms that do not have a nucleus (eubacteria and archaebacteria)
What are protists?
Either single celled organisms that do have a nucleus or some simple multicellular organisms
What are fungi?
Some are unicellular; others multicellular
Plants and animals are_
all multicellular with a nucleus
What is the unity of life?
The concept that all organisms are basically alike in the life functions they perform.
Who developed binomial nomenclature?
Carolus Linnaeus
What is binomial nomenclature?
The 2-name system of naming organisms
What is the first part of an organism’s name?
The genus
What is the second part of an organism’s name?
The species descriptive term
what are organisms of the same species capable of that organisms of merely the same genus are not?
mate w/ one another and produce organisms of their own kind.
what are the four rules of naming in binomial nomenclature?
1) Latin is used 2) Genus is capitalized and sometimes abbreviated 3) species descriptive word is lowercase 4) entire name is either underlined or italicized
What are humans’ binomial nomenclature name?
Homo Sapiens
How is this type of naming helpful?
-no 2 species have the same scientific name -scientific names seldom change -organisms have many different common names in different languages, but scientific name is universal
