A. All classifications above species is “invented” by researchers who decide how to distinguish between 1 genus and another.

A. Will physical traits tell you all you need to know?

This can be tricky

B. Darwin’s thinking allowed scientists to look at phylogeny, or the study of evolutionary relationships to group organisms

A. The more closely classified the more recent the organisms shared a common ancestor

B. Cladograms are diagrams that show derived characteristics between organisms that share a evolutionary past.

Think Family Tree!!

A. Animals throughout time have become more & more diverse living in different ways; a single species evolving into many different species- adaptive radiation

B. Adaptive radiation can be tricking since some animals that are unrelated can begin to look very similar(convergent evolution)

Dolphin Fluke

Fish Fins

C. Some organisms have evolved with another organism which is called coevolution.

D. If these organisms have evolved slowly over time it is known as gradual evolution however if an organisms has time periods with no evolution & then bursts of quick evolution it is called punctuated evolution(affected by speciation)

A. With more recent technology genes & DNA are used to help determine classification and are shown through molecular clocks (marks mutations)

A. The classification has changed since Linnaeus’s time with new evolutionary findings

B. At 1st living organisms were classified as either plant or animal, today there are more precise classifications producing 6 main Kingdoms1. Eubacteria2.Archaebacteria3. Protista4. Fungi5. Plantae6. Animalia

A. Domain is larger than a Kingdom & separates the kingdoms into major groups1. Eukarya - protists, fungi, plants & animals 2. Bacteria – eubacteria3. Archaea - archaebacteria

1. Eukarya – consists of all organism that have a nucleus, can either be unicellular or multicellular

2. Bacteria – are all unicellular and prokaryotic. Have very thick cell walls and are very diverse.

3. Archaea – all are unicellular & prokaryotic and most are found in extreme environments (most can not live in the presence of oxygen)