Classification Tasks

Sample Table:
Sample flow chart
 “All the real knowledge we have depends
on the method by which we distinguish the
similar from the dissimilar. The greater the
number of natural distinctions we make,
the clearer becomes our idea of things.”
Taxonomy

Essential Question
Why is it important to place living
things into categories?
Importance of Classifying organisms
 helps scientists to sort organisms in
order
 helps to identify new organisms by
finding out which group they fit
 it is easier to study organisms when
they are sorted in groups.
 see relationships, similarities and
differences
 Methods of Classification
 Linnean Classification System
 Based on descriptions of organisms

 Boston Classification System

 Based on genetic information and

how they reproduce

 Genomic Classification System
 conservation of proteins in their

genome; links evolutionary

relationship
Bases for Classification
 Fossil Records- relative and
radioactive dating
 Comparative anatomy-analogous and
homologous traits
 Comparative embryology
 Biochemical Information- DNA and
Proteins
 Cellular Structure
 Behavior
 Geographical range
 Early System of Classification

 Taxonomy is the branch of

biology that names and
groups organisms according
to their characteristics and
evolutionary history.
 Organisms were first
classified more than 2,000
years ago by the Greek
philosopher Aristotle.
 Modern System: Hierarchy
Seven Levels of Organization
 Carolus Linnaeus (mid-1700’)s
was a Swedish biologist who
established a simple system
for classifying and naming
organisms.
 He developed a Hierarchy (a
ranking system) for
classifying organisms that is
the Basis for Modern
Taxonomy.
 For this reason, he is
considered to be “father” of
modern taxonomy.
 Modern System: Hierarchy: Seven
Levels of Organization
 Linnaeus used an organisms morphology
(form and structure), to categorize it.
 His system is still being used today.
 His system allowed organisms to be grouped
with similar organisms.
 He first divided all organisms into two
Kingdoms, Plantae (Plants) AND Animalia
(animals).
 This was the same as Aristotle’s main
categories.
 Levels of Classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Classification Hierarchy
of Organisms
Classification of Modern
Humans
Classification of cheetah
 Binomial Nomenclature
 Names were based on Latin or Ancient Greek words -
scientist everywhere understood these languages.
 The FIRST word of the Scientific Name (Species Name)
is the name of the genus to which the organism
belongs.
 The Genus name refers to the relatively small group
of organisms to which a particular type of organism
belongs.
 The SECOND word of the name is the species. (Species
identifier)
 The Species name is usually a Latin description of
some important characteristic of the organism.
 Binomial Nomenclature:
Rules for Writing Scientific Names
 When we use the Latin name for an organism, we
ALWAYS capitalize the Genus (first part) but NOT the
species identifier (second part).
 We also print the name in Italics or Underline them. For
example:
 Acer rubrum (scientific name) - red maple tree (common
name) or Acer rubrum
 Acer is the Latin name for Maple (genus)

 rubrum is the Latin word for Red (species)

 OR the name can be abbreviated as: A. rubrum

 Humans are named: Homo sapiens
 Homo because of our large brain and upright posture.

 sapiens because of our intelligence and ability to speak.

 Trivia:
What is the longest
species name ?
Parastratiosphecomyia
stratiosphecomyioides
Six Kingdom Systems
Six-Kingdom System
KINGDOM:ARCHAEBACTERIA

 Modern Archaebacteria MAY BE Directly descended from and very

similar to the First Organisms on Earth.
 They Are UNICELLULAR PROKARYOTES with distinctive Cell
Membranes as well as Biochemical and Genetic Properties that
differ from ALL other kinds of life.
 Some are autotrophic, producing food by chemosynthesis.
Includes Chemosynthetic Bacteria
 Most are heterotrophic.
 Many Archaebacteria live in harsh environments such as
Sulfurous Hot Springs, very salty lakes, and in anaerobic
environments, such as the intestines of mammals.
 KINGDOM EUBACTERIA
 They are UNICELLULAR
PROKARYOTES. Most of the
Bacteria (Germs) that affect your
life are members of the Kingdom
Eubacteria.
 Eubacteria are both autotrophic
and heterotrophic.
 Includes the disease-causing
bacteria such as tooth decay or E. coli
food poisoning.
 The Combined Kingdoms,
Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
include the greatest number of
living things on Earth.
 ALL OF THE PROKARYOTES
ARE IN THESE TWO KINGDOMS.
 Both reproduce by binary fission,
but they do have some ways to
recombine genes, allowing
evolution to occur. Staphylococcus
 KINGDOM PROTISTA
 These organisms are placed here
more because of What They Are Not
than What They Are.
 Kingdom Protista contains all
eukaryotes that are NOT Plants,
Animal, or Fungi, more than 50,000
species in all. Kingdom Protista
includes unicellular and a few simple Amoeba
multicellular EUKARYOTES.
 Eukaryotic cells have nuclei and
organelles that are surrounded by
membranes.
 The cells of multicellular protists are
not specialized to perform specific
functions in the organisms.
 Includes Euglena and Amoeba. Euglena
 KINGDOM FUNGI
 Fungi are eukaryotes, and most are
multicellular.
 The cells of fungi have cell walls that
contain a material called chitin.
 These organisms are heterotrophic
and obtain their nutrients by releasing
digestive enzymes into a food source.
 They absorb their food after it has
been digested by the enzymes.
 Fungi act either as decomposers or
as parasites in nature.
 Kingdom Fungi includes molds,
mildews, mushrooms, and yeast.

mushroom
 KINGDOM PLANTAE
 Plants are eukaryotic, multicellular
and carry out photosynthesis. They
are autotrophs.
 The cells of plants have cell walls,
that contain the polysaccharide
cellulose.
 Plant cells are specialized for
Flowering plant (Poinsettia)
different functions, such as
photosynthesis, the transport of
materials, and support.
 Kingdom Plantae includes mosses,
ferns, cone-bearing plants
(gymnosperms), and flowering
plants (angiosperms).

fern
 KINGDOM ANIMALIA
 Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic,
and heterotrophic.
 Animal cells have NO CELL WALLS.
 Most members of the Animal
Kingdom can move from place to
place.
 Some are permanently attached to elephant
surfaces such as sponges and
barnacles.
 Fish, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and
mammals-including humans belong to
the Kingdom Animalia.
 This Kingdom also includes sponges,
jellyfish, worms, sea stars, and
insects.
jellyfish
 Three Domain System

 Living things fall into three broad groups called domains.

 Domain Archaea (archaebacteria)
 Domain Bacteria (eubacteria)
 Domain Eukarya (eukaryotes)-true nuclei with linear
chromosomes and membrane—bound organelles.
 This Includes Protista, Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia.
Dichotomous Key
 A dichotomous key is a tool that helps
identify unknown organisms to some
taxonomic level (e.g., species, genus,
family, etc.).
 The key is constructed in such a way
that a series of choices is made that
leads the user to the correct identity of a
sample organism.
 “Dichotomous" means, "divided into two
parts." Therefore, a dichotomous key
always offer two choices for each step,
each of which describes key
characteristics of a particular organism
or group of organisms.
 Guidelines for making a dichotomous Key

Use constant characteristics rather than

variable ones
Use measurements rather than terms like
"large" and "small".
Make the choice a positive one - something "is"
instead of "is not".
If possible, start both choices of a pair with the
same word.
Finish the dichotomous key with a description
of the organism.
Dichotomous key
 the dichotomous key can be expressed in a diagrammatic form

Pla nts

With flo we r With o ut flo we r

Flo we ring Pla nts

(Ang io sp e rm ) No n-flo we ring p la nts

Se e d le ss Se e d -b e a ring

Pla nt b o d y no t Pla nt b o d y
d iffe re ntia te d into d iffe re ntia te d
ro o t, ste m a nd into ste m a nd
le a ve s le a ve s

With c hlo ro p hyll o r

With o ut p ho tsyn- No va sc ula r With va sc ula r
o the r p ho to synthe tic
the tic p ig m e nt tissue s tissue s
p ig m e nt

Alg a e Fung i Mo sse s Fe rns Gym no sp e rm s

1. a. wings covered by an exoskeleton – go to step 2
b. wings freely observed – Go to step 3
2. a. body has a round shape ……….ladybug
b. body has an elongated shape ……….grasshopper
3. a. wings point out from the side of the body….dragonfly
b. wings point to the posterior of the body…….housefly