Classification and Taxonomy

• Classification


  The grouping of organisms according to shared features

  For- Convenience/ make study more manageable/easier to identify species and to see relationships between species
• Species


  A group of organisms which share:

  Morphology

  Physiology

  Biochemistry

  Behaviour

  Genetics

  They can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
• Species


  A group of organisms which share:

  Morphology

  Physiology

  Biochemistry

  Behaviour

  Genetics

  They can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
• Taxonomy


  The study of principles behind classification and the differences both within and between species

  e,g Dog breeds produce fertile offspring but can look very different
• Convergent evolution


  Look the same but not closely related
• Sexual dimorphism


  Male and female species look completely different
• Phylogeny


  Study of evolutionary relationships between organisms (to see how closely related organsims are)
• Classification system

  1. Domain
  2. Kingdom
  3. Phylum
  4. Class
  5. Order
  6. Family
  7. Genus
  8. Species
• Classification system


  As you move down there are more groups but less in each group so there are more shared features
• Human Classification

  1. Domain-eukaryota
  2. Kingdom- animalia
  3. Phylum- chordata
  4. Class- mamalia
  5. Order- Primates
  6. Family-Hominidae
  7. Genus- Homo
  8. Species- Sapiens
• 5 Kingdom classification


  Prokaryotae- Bacteria/ no nucleus/single celled/peptidoglycan cell wall/ circular, naked DNA/ small

  Protoctista- Eukaryotes/ nucleus/linear DNA

  Fungi- Hyphae/chitin cell wall/ eukaryotic

  Plantae- green plants photosynthesise/cellulose cell wall/large vacuole

  Animalia- Eukaryotes/ vertebrae or invertebrates/ No cell wall/motile