Classification

1
Classification

• Chapter 1, Section 4

2
Classification

• Classification

• Grouping of similar objects

3
Classification

• Brief History

• More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle grouped
  organisms into plants and animals
• In late 18th century, Linnaeus developed a system
  of classification based on similar structures

4
Classification

• Modern Classification

• Based on phylogeny
• Phylogeny is the evolutionary history of an
  organism
• Phylogeny is determined by looking at
  similarities in
• structure
• fossils
• hereditary information
• early stages of development

5
Classification

• Modern Classification

• Organisms are grouped into six kingdoms
• Animals
• Plants
• Protists
• Fungi
• Archaebacteria
• Eubacteria
• Some systems break organisms into three domains
  before they are broken into kingdoms

6
Classification

• Modern Classification

• Kingdom Kids
• Phylum Playing
• Class Catch
• Order On
• Family Freeways
• Genus Get
• Species Smooshed
• Organisms of the same species can mate and
  produce fertile offspring

7
Scientific Names

• Binomial Nomenclature

• 2 word system of naming organisms
• Developed by Linneaus
• First word identifies genus
• A genus is a group of similar species
• Second word identifies something about the
  organism
• Called the specific epithet

8
Scientific Names

• Why use scientific names?

• Helps avoid mistakes
• Groups organisms with similar evolutionary
  histories together
• Gives descriptive information about the species
• Allows information about the organism to be
  shared easily and efficiently

9
Tools for Identifying Organisms

• Dichotomous Key

• Detailed list of characteristics used to identify
  organisms