The more groups an organisms is in the more similar it is

Classification Notes

Classification of Living Things

Why is it important to classify?

There are lots of different species in the world, and by making groups, it’s easier to identify similarities and differences.

Classification- is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities.

Levels of Organization

The Swedish physician and botanist who founded taxonomy name was Carolus Linnaeus.

Taxonomy- the science of identifying, classifying, and naming living things.

Scientists use a tool known as a Dichotomous Key to identify organisms. A dichotomous key is a pairs of descriptive statements that help identify unknown organisms

Interpreting the Scientific NameThe scientific name is written in Greek or Latin and is made up of a 2-part name consisting of the genus and species names. This naming system is known as binomial nomenclature

Ex:Genus Species Common NameHomo sapiens humansFelis domesticus house catCanis lupis wolf

Three DomainsDomains are the highest and most general level of classification. All living things are divided into three domains

1) Bacteria 2) Archaea3) Eukarya

Domains Continued..1) Bacteria- includes most types of bacteria

- found everywhere-unicellular and prokaryotic (no nucleus)-heterotrophic (eat food) or autotrophic (make own food)

2) Archaea- Bacteria that live in extreme conditions

examples: Halophils, Thermophiles,

Methanogens

3) Eukarya- the largest domain which contains the most number of kingdoms

-Organisms are eukaryotic (has nucleus)-Can be unicellular or multicellular

Domains are broken down into 6 Kingdoms1) Eubacteria 4) Fungi

2) Archaebacteria 5)

Plantae

3) Protista 6) Animalia

1) Kingdom Eubacteria-Everyday bacteria- Most bacteria are eubacteria-Heterotrophic or autotropic-found everywhere-unicellular and prokaryotic

2) Kingdom Archaeabacteria

- live in extreme conditions -have been on earth at least 3 billion years-archae comes from the Greek word "ancient"

Ex: some E-coli bacteria can be found in the intestines decomposing undigested food or other species on uncooked meat

Some molds are used to make medicine, like penicillin

3) Kingdom Protista- eukaryotic (has nucleus and organelles) -mostly unicellular-can contain organisms that are algae protists (plant-like) fungus protists (fungus-like) protozoa protists (animal like)

4) Kingdom Fungi

- Mostly multicellular (cell walls made of chitin) -Do not obtain nutrients by photosynthesis -absorbs nutrients -Decomposers

5) Kingdom Plantae

-Multi-cellular (cell walls made of cellulose)-Carry out photosynthesis-Immobile (can't move)

6) Kingdom Animalia-Complex multi-cellular organisms -Mobile (can move)-Have specialized sense organs-Heterotrophic (can't make own food)