The Living World 2

Question 1

What is classification

Answer 1

Classification is the process by which anything is grouped into convenient categories based on some easily observable characters

Question 2

What is taxon?

Answer 2

Categories used to study organisms is called taxa or sing. taxon

Question 3

What is taxonomy?

Answer 3

All living organisms can be classified into distinct categories called taxa. This study of classification is called Taxonomy. This is based on various feautres such as morphology, cytology, anatomy, physiology, ecological information, etc about organisms.

Question 4

what processes are basic to taxonomy

Answer 4

characterisation
identification
classification
nomenclature

Question 5

what were the earliest uses of taxonomy

Answer 5

Taxonomy is not something new. Human beings have always been
interested in knowing more and more about the various kinds of
organisms, particularly with reference to their own use. In early days,
human beings needed to find sources for their basic needs of food, clothing
and shelter. Hence, the earliest classifications were based on the ‘uses’ of
various organisms.

Question 6

what is systematics

Answer 6

The study of evolutionary relationships between organisms enables a systematic arrangement of organisms called Systematics. Linnaeus used Systema Naturae as the title of his publication.
term given by carolus linnaeus

Question 7

What is
i)taxonomical hierarchy
ii)taxonomical category

Answer 7

The process of classification includes a hierarchy of steps where each step represents a rank/category called taxon. This hierarchy is called taoxnomical hierarchy and each rank/category is called taxonomical category. These are distinct biological entities not just morphological aggregates

Descending or ascending arrangement of taxonomic
categories is known as taxonomic hierarchy. The classification of any
plant or animal is written in descending order.

Question 8

How do we place an organism in these taxa?

Answer 8

The first requirement is knowledge about an organism or grp of organisms. This helps in
identifying similarities and dissimilarities among the individuals of the
same kind of organisms as well as of other kinds of organisms.