Classification, evolution and biodiversity

• What are the five kingdoms used to classify organisms?

  Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia
• What is the biological definition of a species?

  A group that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring
• Why does the biological definition of species not apply to asexual organisms?

  Asexual organisms do not interbreed
• What was Aristotle's classification system based on?

  Appearance and anatomy of organisms
• How did Aristotle classify animals?

  By their movement: air, water, land
• What was a limitation of Aristotle's classification system?

  It grouped unrelated animals together
• How did research improve classification systems over time?

  More information led to more accurate classifications
• What did 17th-century scientists use to improve classification?

  Microscopes
• Why was the traditional five-kingdom system challenged?

  Not all organisms fit easily into categories
• What is Euglena's significance in classification?

  It has both plant-like and animal-like features
• What is a characteristic of fungi?

  They digest organic matter
• What distinguishes prokaryotes from eukaryotes?

  Prokaryotes have no nucleus
• What is a key feature of Plantae?

  They have chlorophyll and are autotrophic
• What is a characteristic of Animalia?

  They are heterotrophic and multicellular
• What is the role of cytochrome c in organisms?

  It is involved in respiration
• How can amino acid sequences in cytochrome c indicate evolutionary relationships?

  Similar sequences suggest close relation
• What does a difference in amino acid sequences indicate?

  More differences mean more distant relation
• What are the diagnostic features of the five kingdoms?

  • Prokaryotae: No nucleus, unicellular, naked DNA
  • Protoctista: Eukaryotic, diverse forms, not fitting other kingdoms
  • Fungi: Chitin walls, saprophytic, eukaryotic
  • Plantae: Cellulose walls, multicellular, autotrophic
  • Animalia: Heterotrophic, multicellular, able to move
• What evidence has led to new classification systems?

  • Biological molecules
  • Microscopic observations
  • Evolutionary relationships
  • Improved technology (microscopes)
• What are the limitations of observable features in classification?

  • Convergent evolution can mislead classification
  • Similar appearances may not indicate relatedness
  • Observable features may not reflect genetic relationships
• What is a species?

  A group of similar organisms that can breed
• What is a population?

  A group of individuals of the same species
• What does a binomial system provide for organisms?

  It gives each organism a two-part Latin name
• What are the two parts of a binomial name?

  The genus and the species
• What is genetic diversity within a species?

  Differences between the alleles of a species
• What is genetic diversity between species?

  Differences between the genes of different species
• Why are straight lines used on a graph instead of curves?

  Intermittent values are unknown
• How do you calculate population from mark release capture?

  First capture x second capture / marked in second
• What points should be mentioned when evaluating an investigation on diversity?

  Only one experiment and no control
• How does genetic diversity relate to human blood types?

  Different alleles determine blood type variations
• What are the rules of a binomial system?

  Italiсs or underlined, capital first letter
• What is classification in biology?

  The process of grouping organisms by similarities
• What is taxonomy?

  The scientific study of organism classification
• What is phylogenetic classification?

  A system arranging species by evolutionary relationships
• What is a phylogenetic tree?

  A diagram showing evolutionary relationships
• What does phylogenetic mean?

  Study of evolutionary history and relationships
• What is courtship behavior?

  Behavior to attract a mate of the right species
• Why is courtship behavior important?

  It reduces chances of breeding with similar species
• What do all members of a species share?

  They can breed together producing fertile offspring
• What are the features of a phylogenetic system of classification?

  • Based on evolutionary relationships
  • Classifies species into groups with shared characteristics
  • Organized in a hierarchy with no overlap