Systematics Flashcards
What is taxonomy?
The branch of biology that is concerned with naming and classifying organisms.
What does the scientific name include?
The organism’s genus and species
What is a genus?
A group that includes a number of very closely related species.
What is a species?
Populations of organisms that can potentially interbreed under natural conditions.
What are the 8 major categories of the Linnaean Classification system?
Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
What is phylogeny?
Evolutionary history.
What is the science of reconstructing phylogeny?
Systematics
What are clades?
Groups that include species linked by descent of a common ancestor.
What plays a key role in systematics?
Anatomy and molecular similarities.
What are the three main domains?
Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Why do classifications change?
When new information is discovered.
How many species exist?
Currently about 1.5 million.
What is biodiversity?
The total range of species diversity.
