Yesterday, we explored various pieces of lab equipment. In the activity, each group was asked to sort the equipment into groups. How did you decide where each piece of equipment belongs?
In a similar manner, scientists use the different characteristics of organisms to sort them into groups. The science of naming and classifying organisms is called TAXONOMY
How are organisms classified? 1. Scientists begin with similarities in structure and function. -Type of Cell -Unicellular or Multicellular -Mode of Reproduction -Mode of Nutrition -Ability to move 2. Then they look at other factors such as evolutionary connections (phylogeny), habitat, and niche.
WHY CLASSIFY? Reason #1 To name organisms and group them in a logical manner.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS ANIMAL? All of the above these are a. Puma b. Cougar c. Mountain lion d. Panther common names for the same animal.
WHY CLASSIFY?
LEVELS OF CLASSIFICATION Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species most general Each level is called a taxon most specific
Domains are the broadest level of classification. Archaea and Bacteria contain all prokaryotes which are thought to be the earliest forms of life on Earth. Eukarya contains all eukaryotic organisms.
Flashback! What is a prokaryote? A single cell organism with no nucleus or membrane bound organelles DNA is free floating in cytoplasm What is a eukaryote? An organism whose DNA is enclosed in a nucleus Contains organelles
Each of the domains is further divided into KINGDOMS by the shared characteristics of the organisms within the domain. Kingdoms are divided into phylums; phylums are divided into classes, and so on
The more taxonomic levels that two organisms share, the more closely related they are considered to be.
Mnemonic devices make it easy to recall the levels! Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Did King Philip come over for Good Spaghetti?
Taxonomic examples Organism Cat Wolf Fly Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Phylum Chordata Chordata Arthropoda Class Mammalia Mammalia Insecta Order Carnivora Carnivora Diptera Family Felidae Canidae Muscidae Genus Felis Canis Musca Species F. domesticus C. lupus M. domestica At what classification level do cats and wolves diverge (become different)? Which 2 animals are most Family closely related? Cat and wolf
dog wolf fox Mountain lion All belong to the same Kingdom: Animalia Same phylum: Chordata What are some ways these Same class: Mammalia animals are similar and what are Same order: Carnivora some ways they are different? Dog, wolf, fox all belong to the same family: Canidae Dog and wolf belong to same genus: Canis Dog and wolf are different species
How do we name organisms? Carl Linnaeus is known as the Father of Taxonomy (1700 s) Linnaeus developed the two-word naming system binomial nomenclature.
Binomial Nomenclature Each organism is given a scientific name based on its genus and species. Written in Latin 1 st word represents genus and 2 nd word represents species The genus is ALWAYS capitalized and the species is NOT! Names can also be underlined or italicized
Polar bear Capitalized Lower case Ursus maritimus (genus) (species) Underlined instead of italicized!
What is your scientific name? Genus: Homo Species: sapiens Correctly written: Homo sapiens Your dog is Canis familiaris Your cat is Felis catus
Which of the following is the correct scientific name of an organism? a.equus caballus b.black stallion c.equus caballus d.horse
a. Branta canadensis b. Falcipennis canadensis c. Grus americana d. Recurvirostra americana