TAXONOMY

• Systematics

  A branch of biological science that studies the distinctive characteristics of species and how they are related to other species through time. It is the basis used to understand the evolution of life.

  
• Lines of Evidence to Infer Evolutionary Relationships

  • Fossil Evidence
  • Homologies
  • Biogeography
  • Molecular Clocks help track evolutionary time
• Taxonomy


  The science of naming, describing and classifying organisms and includes all plants, animals and microorganisms of the world.

  
• Phylogeny


  The study of relationships among different groups of organisms and their evolutionary development.

  
• Purposes of Phylogenetic Trees


  • Testing hypotheses about evolution
  • Learning about the characteristics of extinct species and ancestral lineages
  • Classifying organisms

  
• Scientific Name

  Also known as Binomial Nomenclature, proposed by Carolous Linneaeus - Father of Modern Taxonomy.
• Genus Name


  The first part of the scientific name
• Species Epithet


  The second part of the scientific name
• Rules in Writing Scientific Names

  • The two part-name must be written in italics. If not possible, it must be underlined.
  • The genus name is always written first and must be capitalized.
  • The species epithet is never capitalized.
• The 3 Domains of Life

  • Archaea (Prokaryotic)
  • Bacteria (Prokaryotic)
  • Eukarya (Eukaryotic)
• The 6 Kingdoms of Life


  • Archaebacteria
  • Eubacteria
  • Protista
  • Fungi
  • Plantae
  • Animalia
• Archaebacteria


  Extremophiles (can live in extreme conditions)
• Eubacteria


  Bacteria that causes boils and acne (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus)
• Protista


  Includes Amoeba and Euglena
• Fungi


  Decomposers (e.g. Molds and Mushrooms)
• Plantae


  • Vascular & Non-Vascular
  • Flowering & Non-Flowering
  • Seed-bearing & Non-Seed bearing
• Phyla in Kingdom Animalia


  • Porifera
  • Cnidaria
  • Platyhelminthes
  • Nematoda
  • Annelida
  • Arthropoda
  • Echinodermata
  • Mollusca
  • Chordata
• Porifera


  Sponges (pores)
• Platyhelminthes


  Flatworms (e.g. Tapeworms and Liver Flukes)
• Nematoda


  Roundworms (e.g. Ascaris lumbricoides)
• Annelida


  Segmented worms (e.g. Leech and Earthworms)
• Classes in Phylum Arthropoda


  • Crustacea (e.g. Shrimps and Hermit crabs)
  • Insecta (6 legs, e.g. Butterfly and Beetle)
  • Arachnids (8 legs, e.g. Spider and Scorpion)
  • Myriapods (e.g. Centipedes)
• Classes in Phylum Mollusca


  • Cephalopods (e.g. Octopus and Squid)
  • Gastropods (1 shell, e.g. Snails)
  • Bivalves (2 shells, e.g. Clams)
• Classes in Phylum Chordata


  • Fishes
  • Amphibians (water to land, e.g. Frogs)
  • Reptiles (land to water, e.g. Crocodiles)
  • Aves (Birds)
  • Mammalia