Unit 3.2.8 - Classification Flashcards
What is classification?
The act of arranging organisms in to groups based on their similarities and differences.
The science of classification is known as?
Taxonomy
What is Taxonomy?
The science of classification
How many groups are used to classify organisms?
7
The seven levels used to classify organisms are also called?
Taxonomic groups
The seven groups used to classify organisms are organised into a…?
Hierarchy
What is a hierarchy?
A system where smaller groups are contained within larger composite groups - with no overlap between the groups.
What are the seven groups in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species
As you move down the hierarchy is there more of less group and more of fewer organisms in each group?
More groups but fewer organisms
What is a species?
A group of similar organisms able to reproduce to give fertile offspring
How are species given their scientific names?
Two word name in Latin, first word is the genus name and second word is the species name, the species name is always in lower case
Give two advantages of giving organisms scientific names?
- ) Enables scientists to communicate about species in a standard way
- ) Avoids confusion across different languages
Do scientists have to continually update the classification system and why?
Yes, because there’s new discoveries about new species
What is Phylo genetics?
The study of the evolutionary history of groups of organisms
What does Phylo genetics tell us?
Who is related to whom and how closely related they are
