Practical #2 - Taxonomy Flashcards
Define Taxonomy
The field of biology the is involved in naming, describing, and classifying organisms both fossil (extinct) and living (extant).
Define Classification
Classification is one branch of taxonomy where various things are identified and lumped together into groups. Classification orders and ranks tings into a series of hierarchical levels.
Define Systematics
The field of biology concerned with the identification of the evolutionary relationship among species through time
What is Phylogeny
Pattern of evolutionary descent of all of the taxa used in a classification of organisms
What is a “taxa?”
Monophyletic groups of organisms that can be recognized as members of the group on account of their shared characteristics
What is our definition of species?
A species is a group of organisms that potentially can interbreed and reproduce fertile offspring. This is all the -biological species concept
What is a population
A group of organisms of one species living in a defined area.
What are the codes for naming Animals, Plants, Bacteria?
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature International Code of Botanical Nomenclature International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria
How to scientifically name a species?
- 2 parts
- First word = genus
- Second word = specific epithet
- The first letter of the genus is capitilized. The second word is all lower case
- The entire name is italicized or underlined
List the 7 taxonomic levels, High to low.
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Trinomial Nomenclature
- To indicate a specific subspecies a third name is used in scientific naming
- Ex: Homo Sapiens sapiens - refers to “modern” humans
What is a shared characteristic?
- Shared characteristics are based on easily recognizable features of the objects: their shapes, sizes, colors, or functions
Artificial Classification vs Natural Calssification
- Artifical classifies based on a few shared features which may not have any evolutionary significance
- Think of grouping flying vs non-flying organisms
- Natural groups together organisms descended from common ancestors
What are analgous structures?
- Analgous structures are similar in function, but the underlying structure and development of these structure are different
Describe Homology
- Similarties based on shared ancestry