classification

• what are the seven groups ordered in a hierarchy to classify organisms referred to as?

  taxonomic groups
• what are the seven taxonomic groups?

  • kingdom
  • phylum
  • class
  • order
  • family
  • genus
  • species
• why do scientists classify organisms?

  • to identify species- clearly defined system
  • to predict characteristics- other species in the same group will most likely have the same characteristics
  • to find evolutionary links- evolution from a common ancestor
• what are the three domains?

  • organisms first organised into these before taxonomic groups
  • archaea, bacteria and eukarya
• what happens as you descend taxonomic groups?

  • more groups at each level
  • but fewer species (organisms) in each group
  • More specific traits
  • Increased similarity
• what is a species?

  a group of the same type of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
• why do we name organisms using binomial nomenclature?

  • organisms have different names in different languages, more specified way of naming
  • common names don't provide info about how organisms might be related
  • to ensure scientists all over the world are discussing the same organisms