Unit 2: Classification and Evolution Flashcards
Why do we classify? (2)
- for the purpose of identification
- to show relatedness
What does it mean when organisms are grouped closely?
it implies common ancestry
Common Ancestry
organisms are closely related
What does is mean when organisms are not grouped closely? (2)
- organisms are not as closely related
- implies a distant common ancestor
Levels of taxa
an 8 level system used for classifying organisms
What is the most inclusive taxon?
domain
How many levels of taxa are there?
8
What are the levels of taxa? (8)
- domain
- kingdom
- phylum
- class
- order
- family
- genus
- species
Which taxon is the most inclusive?
domain
What are the kingdoms organisms are split into? (6)
- plantae
- animalia
- fungi
- protoctistae
- archaebacteria
- eubacteria
prokaryotes (2)
- no nucleus
- no compartmentalization
eukaryotes (2)
- nucleus
- compartmentalization
What are the domains? (3)
- archaebacteria
- eubacteria
- eukarya
How many domains are there?
3
What is an example of archaebacteria?
bacteria in salt lakes
What is an example of eubacteria?
e. coli
What is unique about the plant kingdom?
all members of the plant kingdom will share fundamental characteristics not shared by other kingdoms
What happens when getting more specific in taxa? What is an example? (2)
- characteristics of the more general taxa must be shared
- example: if 2 plants were divided at the family level, they must share characteristics of the class, phylum, and kingdom to which they belong
What is the classification of the peregrine falcon? (8)
Domain - Eukaryote
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Chordata
Class - Aves
Order - Falconiformes
Family - Falconidae
Genus - Falco
Species - peregrinus
What is the classification of the white oak? (8)
Domain - Eukaryote
Kingdom - Plantae
Phylum - Spermatophyta
Class - Angiospermae
Order - Dicotyledae
Family - Fagaceae
Genus - Quercus
Species - alba
How do you format the scientific name of an organism? (4)
- refer to the genus and species
- italicize them
- genus is capitalized
- first letter of the genus is abbreviated
What is an example of a scientific name?
E. coli
How many plant classes are there?
4
What are the 4 plant classes?
- bryophyte
- filicinophyte
- coniferophyte
- angiosperm
What are the characteristics of bryophytes? (6)
- no vascular system
- no differentiated tissue
- small
- no seeds
- either male or female
- requires water for reproduction
What is an example of a bryophyte?
moss
What are characteristics of filicinophytes? (4)
- vascular tissue
- no seeds
- sporophyte
- water for reproduction
What is an example of a filicinophyte?
ferns
What are characteristics of coniferophytes? (6)
- extensive vascular tissue
- most have cones with seeds
- no flowers or fruit
- needles instead of leaves
- sporophyte
- wind for reproduction
What is an example of a coniferophyte?
pine cones
What are characteristics of angiosperms? (5)
- extensive vascular tissue
- seeds
- flowers and/or fruit
- lots of variation
- relies on pollinators for reproduction
What type of group does evolution effect?
populations
What must happen for evolution to occur?
genetic change
How does genetic change in a population happen? (3)
- meiosis
- sexual recombination
- mutations
What is an example of evidence of evolution?
wolves evolving to different dog breeds
How does the evolution from wolves to dogs happen?
selective breeding
What is another name for selective breeding?
artificial selection
What is an example of a homologous structure?
pentadactyl limb
Pentadactyl Limb (2)
- the forelimbs of mammals share the same skeletal elements because they diverged from a common ancestor
- similar structures have different functions
Homologous Structure
show similarity in characteristics as a result of descent from a common ancestor
Vestigial Structure
structures that also exhibit common ancestry as remnants of formerly functional structures that are no longer used
Fossil
the preserved remains of any organism from the past
What are the limitations of fossils? (2)
- the only thing preserved of fossil is bone, no tissue
- there are not records for everything
What are fossils useful for?
understanding transitional forms
Transitional Forms
those that link one group to another such as fish to amphibs
What is an example of a transitional form? (2)
- acanthostega
- marine animal that had similarities to fish, amphibs, and reptiles