Three Domains of Life

• Taxonomy - branch of biology that deals with the identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms
• Identification - placing of new organism in previously described group
• Nomenclature - naming of organism
• Classification - ordering of organism into group; can be phenetic or phylogenetic
• Three Domains of Life - Archaea, Bacteria, Eukarya
• Archaea - lives in extreme conditions (heat loving organisms are called "thermophiles" and salt loving organisms are called "halophiles")
• Bacteria - cannot live in extreme conditions and most known bacteria are prokaryotes
• Eukarya - domain of organisms having cells each with distinct nucleus within which the genetic material is contained
• Robert Whittaker 0 proposed a five-kingdom scheme: Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Protista, and Monera
• Levels of Taxonomy - Alpha, Beta, and Gamma taxonomy
• Alpha Taxonomy - includes species description, taxonomic keys, diagnoses
• Beta taxonomy - includes identification of natural groups and biological classes
• Gamma Taxonomy - includes study of evolutionary processes and patterns