Biology Chapter 17 Flashcards

Linnaean Taxonomy

• Organisms are classified based on physical characteristics in the Linnaean taxonomy system.
• The Linnaean system utilizes a hierarchy of categories known as taxa.

Abundance of Organisms

• Bacteria represent the most abundant group of organisms on Earth.

Linnaean Taxa Order

• The correct order of Linnaean taxa from general to specific is:
  • Kingdom
  • Phylum
  • Class
  • Order
  • Family
  • Genus
  • Species
• Mnemonic: "King Phillip can order five good soups."

Definition of Species

• In classification, a species is defined as a group of organisms capable of breeding and producing offspring.

Molecular Clocks

• Molecular clocks utilize mutation rates to measure evolutionary time, offering insights into the timeline of species evolution.

Cladograms

• Cladograms are diagrammatic representations of evolutionary relationships among species, highlighting common ancestors.

Clad Definition

• A "clad" refers to a group of organisms that share a common ancestor, indicating their evolutionary lineage.

Outgroups

• An outgroup includes organisms that do not share derived characteristics with any other group being studied, serving as a reference point in cladistic analysis.

Kingdom Protista

• In the 1860s, single-celled organisms were classified into their own kingdom, known as Protista.

Domains of Life

• The most current tree of life identifies 3 domains: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Kingdoms of Life

• Currently, there are 7 recognized kingdoms within the tree of life.

Basis of Modern Classification

• The modern classification system is primarily based on common ancestry, emphasizing evolutionary relationships among organisms.

Genetic Relationships

• In a study of genetic differences in protein x among species:
  • Horses are most closely related to humans (5 differences).
  • Pigs have 10 differences.
  • Rabbits show the greatest divergence, with 20 differences, making them least related to humans.

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key concepts from Biology Chapter 17. Learn about the Linnaean taxonomy, characteristics of organisms, and the classification hierarchy. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of biological classification.