Questions and Answers
What is taxonomy?
What is a species?
A taxonomic unit consisting of organisms capable of mating and producing viable and fertile offspring.
What does binomial nomenclature refer to?
A system of naming organisms, introduced by Linnaeus, in which all species are given a two-part scientific name.
What is a dichotomous key?
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Define biodiversity.
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What is the highest level of classification?
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What are eukaryotes?
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What are prokaryotes?
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Define Protista.
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What characterizes the kingdom Fungi?
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What is the Animalia kingdom known for?
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What defines the Plantae kingdom?
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What is Archaea?
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What does the term 'Bacteria' refer to?
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What is a generic name?
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Define the term taxon.
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What is classification?
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What is a dichotomous key used for?
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Study Notes
Taxonomy and Classification
- Taxonomy is the study of describing, naming, and classifying organisms.
- It utilizes various levels of classification including domains, kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
- A taxon refers to any taxonomic group, such as a class or family.
Key Terms and Concepts
- A species is a taxonomic unit where organisms can mate and produce fertile offspring.
- Binomial nomenclature, introduced by Linnaeus, assigns a two-part scientific name consisting of a generic name and a specific name.
- Dichotomous keys are tools for identifying organisms through a series of binary questions.
Biodiversity
- Biodiversity measures biological diversity per unit area encompassing species, habitat, and genetic diversity.
- Five kingdoms exist in taxonomy: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera (which includes Bacteria and Archaea).
Cellular Classification
- Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles and a distinct nucleus, while prokaryotes lack a true nucleus.
- Archaea are biochemically and genetically distinct prokaryotic organisms.
- Bacteria represent the prokaryotic organisms classified under the Woese system.
Biological Kingdoms
- Fungi consist of non-green eukaryotic organisms that reproduce through spores and absorb nutrients.
- Animalia encompasses multi-cellular, heterotrophic organisms with mobile structures and sensory organs.
- Plantae represents multicellular, photosynthetic autotrophs with cellulose cell walls.
- Protista includes mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms that differ from other kingdoms.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
- The hierarchy starts from domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) and progresses to kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
- The family level includes related genera, while the order includes related families.
- Genus is the taxonomic group of related species.
Identification and Classification
- An organism's generic name is the first part of its scientific name, identifying its genus.
- The specific name, the second part of the scientific name, further defines the species, like "sapiens" in Homo sapiens.
- Taxonomists are the biologists specializing in the classification and naming of organisms, providing structure to biological diversity.
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Test your knowledge of key terms in biodiversity and taxonomy with these flashcards. Learn important concepts such as taxonomy, species, and binomial nomenclature. Ideal for biology students looking to enhance their understanding of classification systems in the natural world.