Topic 4 - Classification

Question 1

What is classification?

Answer 1

The organisation of organisms into

groups

Question 2

What is taxonomy?

Answer 2

The classification of organisms into taxa: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Question 3

Name the five kingdoms

Answer 3

Animals, plants, fungi, protists, prokaryotes

Question 4

What happens to the number of organisms in each taxon as you move down the hierarchy?

Answer 4

The number of organisms in each taxon group decreases as the groups are more specific

Question 5

Traditionally, organisms were grouped based on similarities and differences in their anatomy and behaviour. What is the problem with this?

Answer 5

● Organisms that are not closely related may look alike and behave similarly if they live in the same environment e.g. sharks and dolphins
● Some closely related species may look very different if they live
in different habitats e.g. queen ants, worker ants

Question 6

What advancements in science have led

scientists to reconsider the five kingdoms classification system?

Answer 6

● Microscopes
● Biochemistry
● DNA and RNA analysis

Question 7

Describe the three domains system of classification

Answer 7

● Organisms are initially divided into an extra
three groups: Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
● domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus, species.

Question 8

Which domain do eukaryotic organisms

belong to?

Answer 8

Eukarya

Question 9

Which domains do prokaryotic organisms belong to?

Answer 9

Archaea and Bacteria

Question 10

Describe the domain Bacteria

Answer 10

Consists of true bacteria e.g. E.coli

Question 11

Describe the domain Archaea

Answer 11

Consists of primitive microorganisms
● Contains extremophiles - adapted to
live in extreme conditions e.g. hot
springs