Classification and evolution

• What is classification?

  classification is the act of arranging organisms into groups based on their similarities and differences.
• Taxonomy is the branch of biology that deals with the classification of organisms.
• The classification of organisms is based on their similarities and differences in characteristics and relationships.
• What are the taxa?

  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
• what are the five kingdoms?

  Animals

  Plants

  Fungi

  Protists

  Prokaryotes
• What are some key features about animals?

  Animals are multicellular eukaryotes that lack a cell wall
• What are some key features of plants?

  Plants are mulitcellular eukaryotes with a cell wall made of cellulose
• What are some key features of fungi?

  Fungi are eukaryotes that are non-vascular, heterotrophic and they tend to produce spores to reproduce. They lack chlorplasts so they cannot photosynthesise.
• What are some key features of protists?

  Protists are eukaryotes that are mostly aquatic and unicellular.
• What are some key factors about prokaryotes?

  No nucleus, single-celled, simple structure, lack membrane-bound organelles. They also have a cell wall made of some sort of polysaccharide.
• what is meant by a species?

  A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
• What is classification?

  It is the act of arranging organisms into groups based on their similarities and differences.
• Why do scientists classify organisms?

  By grouping organisms, it makes them easier to study
• What is taxonomy?

  The study of classification.
• What is phylogeny?

  The study of the evolutionary history and relationships among organisms.
• what were the early classification systems based on?

  Physical characteristics and observable traits, classification was done by eye.
• How do modern classification systems use physiology and biochemistry to help classify species?

  both studies have helped clear up ambiguity in the classifications as more detailed research can be done
• explain Woese's proposed classification system?

  Three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya. It is base on genetic and molecular differneces in the RNA
• Explain the link between phylogeny and classification?

  Evolutionary relationships.
• Why do we name and identify organisms?

  To classify and categorize them.
• Explain the binomial system?

  A system of naming organisms using two words: the genus and species.
• what is a dichotomous key?

  A tool used to identify organisms based on a series of choices between two characteristics.