Test Date___________CLASSIFICATION NOTES

I. BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION Classification is the grouping of objects or organisms based on their similarities. Scientists classify organisms to organize them; make it easier to understand and communicate about them. The branch of biology concerned with the grouping and naming of organisms is called taxonomy. Taxonomy utilizes evolutionary relationships between organisms to correctly identify and group them.

Early Taxonomists- 2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first taxonomist- Aristotle divided organisms into plants and animals- He subdivided them by their habitat – land, sea, or air dwellers

John Ray – a botanist, was the 1st to use Latin for naming - His names were very long descriptions telling everything about the plant

Carolus Linnaeus (1707 – 1778)- 18th century taxonomist- classified organisms by their structure

- developed the naming system called binomial nomenclature, which is still used today

- called the “father of taxonomy”

A. Binomial Nomenclature Binomial nomenclature is the universal classification system used today in which groups are formed according to Physical characteristics and then each organism is assigned a 2-word scientific name. The scientific name is the genus and species of the organism. Genus and species names are always underlined or written in italices. Genus is capitalized, species is not.

B. Categories of Classification 1. Kingdom – broadest category, groups of closely related phyla 2. Phylum – groups of closely related classes 3. Class – groups of closely related orders 4. Order – groups of closely related families 5. Family – groups of closely related genera 6. Genus – groups of closely related species 7. species – smallest and most similar group; organisms that share specific characteristics and can interbreed.

Which two are more closely related?

Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos

Confusion in Using Different LanguagesLatin Names are Understood by all Taxonomists

C. Scientific

Classification of a Human

Kingdom ______Animalia_________________ Phylum _______Chordata_________________ Class _________Mammalia________________ Order _________Primate__________________ Family ________Hominidae________________ Genus ________Homo _ ___________________ Species _______sapiens__________________

III. THE EVOLUTION OF CLASSIFICATION Taxonomy, the science of classification, is a work in progress, in large part, because of evolution, both as a science and a process.

A. Evolution As A Science – As the study of evolution becomes more sophisticated due to DNA sequencing, scientists are realizing that organisms, or entire groups of organisms, have been incorrectly classified, or assigned to the wrong classification levels

1. The Kingdoms of Life DNA analysis has had a major impact on the classification system, changing the long accepted system of 5 kingdoms to 6 kingdoms. The two prokaryotic kingdoms, Archaebacteria and Eubacteria were originally classified together as Kingdom Monera.

2. The Three Domains of Life Recently, further studies have led taxonomists to propose a classification system which includes three “super-kingdoms” called Domains. a. Domain Archaea – Includes the Archaebacteria

b. Domain Bacteria – Includes all remaining prokaryotes or the Eubacteria

c. Domain Eukarya – Includes the four eukaryotic kingdoms – Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

II. THE SIX KINGDOMS OF LIFE

A. Kingdom Archaebacteria 1. Cell Type – Prokaryotic 2. Cell Structure - cell wall without peptidoglycan ; DNA, cytosol, cell membrane , & ribosomes present 3. Body Form - All unicellular 4. Nutrition - autotrophic or heterotrophic 5. Other characteristics – considered to be the most ancient of organisms; live in very harsh conditions like extreme temperatures, high pH concentration, etc. Another group of Archaebacteria live in the digestive system of animals and produce methane gas. 6. Examples - methanogens, Thermoacidophiles, Halophiles

Great Salt Lake, UT - The Great Salt Lake, second in salinity only to the Dead Sea, was believed to be as 'dead' until very recently. However, halophilic microorganisms strive in these environments having developed mechanisms to endure high salt concentrations, dessication and constant UV radiation.

B. Kingdom Eubacteria 1. Cell Type - Prokaryotic 2. Cell Structure - Cell wall made up of peptidoglycan ; DNA, cell membrane, cytosol, & ribosomes present 3. Body Form - All Unicellular 4. Nutrition – Mostly heterotrophic; some are autotrophic (photosynthetic or chemosynthetic)

5. Other characteristics – Most common bacteria. They are ubiquitous which means they are found everywhere. Very important decomposers. Some are pathogenic, but most are harmless.6. Examples - decomposers, E.coli, Streptococcus sp, Staphylococcus sp,

Salmonella sp

C. Kingdom Protista 1. Cell Type - Eukaryotic 2. Cell Structure – May have cell wall; may have chloroplasts; may be motile and have cilia or flagella. 3. Body Form – Mostly unicellular; may be multicellular 4. Nutrition – autotrophic or heterotrophic 5. Other Characteristics – Nicknamed “ Catch-all” kingdom or “Junk- Drawer”. Contains organisms that don’t “fit” into other kingdoms. Protists are sub-grouped according to which Eukaryotic kingdom they’re most like; for example. Fungi-like, Protist-like, or Animal-like.

7. Examples – slime molds, Euglena, Paramecium, algae, Amoeba

D. Kingdom Fungi 1. Cell Type - Eukaryotic 2. Cell Structure – Have cell wall made of chitin; fungi do NOT have chloroplasts. 3. Body Form – Mostly multicellular; may be unicellular. Single-celled fungi are known as yeast.

4. Nutrition – All heterotrophic! Obtain nutrients through a process called absorption, meaning food is digested outside their bodies by secretion of cells, then absorbed by fungi. 5. Other Characteristics – Principle decomposers. Also important in brewing and baking. 6. Examples – mushrooms, molds, yeasts, truffles, morels

E. Kingdom Plantae 1. Cell Type - Eukaryotic 2. Cell Structure – Have cell wall made of cellulose; chloroplasts present. 3. Body Form – All multicellular 4. Nutrition – All autotrophic 5. Other Characteristics – Most contain organs and organ systems. All non-motile with specialized reproductive structures.

5. Examples – mosses, ferns, trees, flowering plants

F. Kingdom Animalia 1. Cell Type - Eukaryotic 2. Cell Structure – Never have cell wall 3. Body Form – All multicellular 4. Nutrition – All heterotrophic

5. Other Characteristics – Most complex of all kingdoms. Most organisms contain organs and organ systems. All members are capable of movement sometime during their lifetime. Most animals are invertebrates meaning they lack a backbone. All vertebrates belong to Phylum Chordata.

6. Examples – sponges, fish, worms, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals