Classification

• Classification


  The organisation of organisms into groups
• Taxonomy

  The classification of organisms into taxa :

  • Kingdom

  • Phylum

  • Class

  • Order

  • Family

  • Genus

  • Species
• The five kingdoms

  • Animals

  • Plants

  • Fungi

  • Protists

  • Prolaryotes
• What happens to the number of organisms in each taxon as you move down the hierarchy?

  The number of organisms in each taxon group decreases
• Traditionally, organisms were grouped based on similarities and differences in their anatomy and behaviour. What is the problem with this?

  • Organisms that are not closely related may look alike and behave similarly if they live in the same environment e.g. sharks and dolphins

  • Some closely related species may look different if they live in different habitats e.g. queen ants, worker ants
• What advancements in science have led scientists to reconsider the five kingdoms classification system?

  • Microscopes

  • Biochemistry

  • DNA and RNA analysis
• Three domains classification system

  • Organisms are divided into an extra three groups : Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya

  • Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species
• Which domain do eukaryotic organisms belong to?

  Eukarya
• Which domain do prokaryotic organisms belong to?

  Archaea and bacteria
• Describe the domain bacteria

  Consists of true bacteria e.g. E.coli