Classification

I. Introduction

A. Classification is the grouping of objects or information based on similarities

B. Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with the grouping and naming of organisms

II. How Are Organisms Classified?

1. Structurea. etc. bones

2. Evolutionary history3. Development

a. embryology

4. Biochemistrya. DNA/RNA

5. Behaviora. mating rituals

III. History of Classification

A. Aristotle divided organisms into plants and animals

B. Linnaeus grouped organisms on the basis of structure1. Created 2-word naming system called binomial nomenclaturea. 1st word identifies the genus in which the organism belongs- always capitalizedb. 2nd word is descriptive of the organism. It is lowercase.

c. Names are Latinized.

d. No 2 organisms have the same scientific name.

e. Scientific names are written as follows:

1) Genus species or Genus species

2) Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens

Canis familiaris :Domestic dogFelis domesticus Domestic catCarassius auratus GoldfishPogona vitticeps Bearded DragonRosa macdubRed Rose

C. Why give scientific names?

1. Some organisms have more than one common name. Ex. English sparrow and house sparrow

2. Two organisms may have the same common name Ex. Roaches

3. Common names may not accurately describe an organism. Ex. Seahorse

IV. The 7 Taxonomic Categories

A. Example of the bobcat

Category Classification

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Chordata

Class Mammalia

Order Carnivore

Family Felidae

Genus Lynx

Species Rufus

B. What is a bobcat’s scientific name?

1. Lynx rufus or Lynx rufus

V. Kingdoms of LifeA. Eubacteria & Archeabacteria

1. Only prokaryotes2. Microscopic3. Almost all unicellular4. Bacteria5. Found in all habitats6. Heterotrophic or

autotrophic7. Ex. E. coli, Oscillatoria

B. Protista 1. Eukaryotes2. Unicellular and Multicellular3. Found in moist environments4. Ex. Paramecium, algae

Protozoa

Amoeba

Red tide caused by dinoflagellates

C. Fungi 1. Eukaryote2. Unicellular or multicellular3. Heterotroph4. Decompose dead organisms and wastes in the environment5. Stationary- don’t move6. Ex. Mushrooms, yeasts, molds

D. Plantae1. Eukaryotic2. Multicellular3. Stationary4. Photosynthetic autotrophs5. Ex. Ferns, flowering plants

E. Animalia1. Multicellular2. Heterotrophs3. Systems such as nervous and muscle4. Ex. Insects, mammals, worms

F. Eubacteria & Archeabacteria used to be group into which kingdom?

1. Monera