Classification
(Taxonomy)
Vocabulary:
Classify
Trait
A Classify: To group together based on similarities.
B Biologists classify organisms:
1 Create order so they are easier to find or identify
2 To show how organisms that are grouped together share similar traits.
3 Trait: A feature or characteristic that an organism has. ex. hair, scales, number of flower petals.
C Biologists group from large groupings with a few common traits to smaller groupings with many common traits.
a. Kingdom: most general level. Most members but few things in common
b. Phylum: sub­grouping of kingdom
c. Class: sub­group of phyla. D Systems of classification:
1 Aristotle: two kingdoms Plant and Animal
2 Divides plants into 3 groups based on size:
1 herbs: small flexible stems: ex. flowers, grass, basil, wheat, corn
2 shrubs: medium sized and have several stems: ex. rose bush, hedges, 3 trees: tall, have 1 large stem (trunk) ex. oak, maple, pine tree
3 Animals divides into 3 groups based on where they live or move
1. Air: animals fly, ex. birds, insects, bats
2. Water: animals that swim, ex. fish, lobster, seals, aligators, 3. Land: animals that "walk" on land. ex. horses, humans, turtles, centipede, snails
4 Carl Linneaus: Updates the classification system
a Classifies into more groups.
b bases system on specific traits c gives organisms a two word name that discribes the traits. 5 Levels of classification:
a Kingdom: Largest grouping. b Phylum: Sub­ group of Kingdom. c Class: sub­ grouping of phylum
d Order: sub group of class e Family: sub­group of order
f Genus: sub­group of family
g Species: Most specific grouping
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How Organisms are classified today
A Organisms are classified based on how they are related.
1 The more groups (levels) organisms share the closer the classification.
2. The more groups shared the more alike (traits) they are.
3. The more groups shared the closer they are related
B Evidence used in classification (Types of traits)
1 Common structures
2 Common ancestor
3 Cells and chemistry ( blood, DNA) C Scientific names come from classification
1 Scientific names are two words: Genus and species
D Why scientific names are used.
1 No two species have the same name
2 Scientific names are the same the world around. They are in Latin
3 Scientific names seldom change
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E Five Kingdom System of Classification: Most Scientists classify living things into 5 kingdoms
1 Monera
2 Protist
3 Fungi
4 Plant
5 Animal
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