Unit 2 - Topic 1 - Field techniques for Biologists - Section C - Identification and Taxonomy Flashcards
How can organisms in a sample be identified
Using classification guides, biological keys, or analysis of DNA or protein
What two way can organisms both be classified
Taxonomy and Phylogenetics
What does taxonomy involve and what is classic taxonomy classification based on
The identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on shared characteristics. Classic taxonomy classification is based on morphology
What is phylogenetics and what is it changing
The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms. It is changing the traditional classification of many organisms
How does phylogenetics work
Phylogenetics uses heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences, and protein structure to make inferences about an organism’s evolutionary history and create a phylogeny (or phylogenetic tree) — a diagrammatic hypothesis of its relationships to other organisms. Genetic evidence can reveal relatedness obscured by divergent or convergent evolution.
Familiarity with taxonomic groupings allows what and what are examples of taxonomic groups
Predictions and inferences to be made about
the biology of an organism from better-known
(model) organisms. Nematodes, arthropods and chordates are examples of taxonomic groups.
What is a model organism
Those that are either easily studied or have been well studied
Examples of model organisms
bacterium E. coli; the flowering plant Arabidopsis
thaliana; the nematode C. elegans; the arthropod Drosophila melanogaster (a fruit fly); mice, rats, and zebrafish, which are all chordates
How are model cells important in the advancement of modern biology
Information obtained from them can be applied to other species that are more difficult to study directly
