Species and Taxonomy

Question 1

SPEC: When are two organisms the same species

Answer 1

Two organisms belong to the same species if they are able to produce fertile offspring.

Question 2

SPEC: What is a necessary precursor to mating, and why?

Answer 2

Courtship behaviour, as it enables species recognition

Question 3

What do courtship behaviours enable individuals to do?

Answer 3

. Identify a mate capable of breeding, as both need to be sexually mature, fertile and receptive to mating
. Form a pair bond - leading to successful mating and raising of offspring
. Synchronise mating, so that there is maximal chance of fertilisation
. Become able to breed - by bringing a member of the opposite sex into a physiological state that enables breeding

Question 4

SPEC: What is the purpose of the Phylogenetic classification system

Answer 4

The phylogenetic classification system attempts to arrange species into groups based on their evolutionary origins and relationships

Question 5

SPEC: How is the phylogenetic classification system organised?

Answer 5

It uses a hierarchy in which smaller groups are placed within larger groups, with no overlap between groups. Each group is called a taxon (plural taxa).

Question 6

SPEC: What comprises the heirarchy?

Answer 6

One hierarchy comprises the taxa: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.

Question 7

SPEC: How is each species universally identified

Answer 7

Each species is universally identified by a binomial consisting of the name of its genus and species

Question 8

How else can we investigate and clarify evolutionary relationships

Answer 8

Immunology and genome sequencing, There will be less differences in the genomes (and by extension RNA, amino acids and polypeptides) and tertiary structures of immunoglobulins (antibodies) in more closely related species