Tree Of Life

Question 1

Define taxonomy

Answer 1

the branch of biology that names and classifies
both living and extinct species into a hierarchical order.

Question 2

Define species

Answer 2

Species (according to biological species concept*) = a group of organisms that have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring.
• Species are reproductively isolated from other groups - i.e. the organisms in one species are incapable of producing viable, fertile offspring with organisms of another species.

Question 3

Who is Carolus linnaeus

Answer 3

Carolus Linnaeus - 1735
• Botanist who set out to organize the wide diversity of organisms that were being discovered at that time.
• Prior to Linnaeus:
• No precise scheme for naming species.
• Biologists often used long names based on a range of anatomical + physiological characteristics.
• Example:
• Apis pubescens, thorace subgriseo, abdomine fusco, pedibus posticus glabis, untrinque margine ciliatus
• After Linnaeus:
• Apis mellifera

Question 4

How are scientific names written

Answer 4

GENUS THEN SPECIES
SPECIES IS ALWAYS ITALICS
GENUS IS ALWAYS CAPITALIZED

Question 5

Taxon

Answer 5

is a group made up of several closely related species

Question 6

What is binomial nomenclature

Answer 6

Two part naming system genus then species

Question 7

Why use binomial nomenclature

Answer 7

Because it is the same across the world
Common names of animals change from regions by using Latin names there is no confusion

Scientific names are specific to a single species

Common names change between languages

Some names do not reflect what organism they are (jelly fish)