Classification NotesClassification Notes

Scientists classify organisms based upon similarities.

Classification changes as scientists learn more information about a species and realize that it is more genetically similar to another species.

One of the original classification systems consisted of two groups: plants and animals.

Animals were grouped based upon where they lived: land, air or water.

Plants were grouped based on size. Later, scientists grouped them based

upon structure and physical characteristics.

Taxonomy - The science of grouping and naming species.

Species are given two word Latin names. This two word naming system is called

binomial nomenclature. (bi=two, nomen = name)

The first word is the genus (group) name and the second is the species name.

The first word is always capitalized and the second is always lower case and it is always typed in italics. Ex. Homo sapiens.

Organisms are classified into a hierarchical system (a system with many levels).

There are 8 levels:DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrder Family GenusSpecies

Organisms are classified into a hierarchical system (a system with many levels).

There are 8 levels:DidKingPhilipComeOver For GoodSpaghetti

DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies

Until recently, kingdoms were the highest level of classification. There were 5 kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera.

Scientists discovered a new type of bacteria (monera) that was so different that bacteria needed two different groups: Eubacteria and Archaebacteria.

There are now 6 kingdoms:Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Eubacteria

and Archaebacteria.

Major characteristics of the Animal kingdom:

• Eukaryotic Cells• Multi-Cellular• Heterotrophs

Classification of a HUMANS:

• Domain: Eukarya• Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Chordata• Class: Mammalia • Order: Primates • Family: Hominidae (Tribe:

Hominini) • Genus: Homo • Species: sapien

Classification of Orangutans:

• Kingdom: Animalia • Phylum: Chordata • Class: Mammalia • Order: Primates• Family: Hominidae (Subfamily: Ponginae)• Genus: Pongo• Species: borneo

Archaebacteria and Eubacteria have such different cells, that scientists divided the kingdoms up even further into 3 domains:

Archaea (Archaebacteria) Bacteria (Eubacteria) Eukarya (Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and

Protista)

Dichotomous Keys

• Used to identify organisms based on characteristics

• Halibut Video (for Fish Sorting activity)