Biology Classification Systems

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Questions and Answers

What is a common name?

A non-scientific term that may vary from region to region.

What is phylogeny?

The evolutionary history of an organism used today to group organisms into six kingdoms.

What is the first and largest category used to classify organisms?

Kingdom.

What is binomial nomenclature?

A two-word naming system that gives all organisms their scientific name. Signup and view all the answers

What is genus?

The first word of the two-word scientific name used to identify a group of similar species. Signup and view all the answers

When you place similar items together you ______________ them.

classify. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the Greek philosopher that developed the first system of classification?

Aristotle. Signup and view all the answers

What two kingdoms did Aristotle's taxonomic categories divide organisms into?

Plants and Animals. Signup and view all the answers

How did Aristotle classify animals?

Based on where they lived (land, water, flying). Signup and view all the answers

Aristotle's system was criticized because it had too many _____________.

exceptions. Signup and view all the answers

Who is known as the father of modern classification?

Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

What was Linnaeus' system of classification based on?

Similar characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

The two-word naming system that Linnaeus used is called __________.

binomial nomenclature. Signup and view all the answers

What are the first and second words of an organism's scientific name?

Genus and species. Signup and view all the answers

What language did Linnaeus use for his classification?

Latin. Signup and view all the answers

What two traits do scientists look at to classify organisms?

Ancestors and chemical make-up. Signup and view all the answers

What does phylogeny tell scientists?

Who their ancestors were and how they have changed over time. Signup and view all the answers

The classification system most commonly used today separates organisms into ______________________ kingdoms.

five. Signup and view all the answers

What does the mnemonic 'King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti' represent?

Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dichotomous key?

A tool used to classify organisms based on a series of choices that lead the user to the correct identity. Signup and view all the answers

What would happen if life scientists used only common names?

It could cause confusion and errors. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

To classify organisms using a detailed list of traits. Signup and view all the answers

Dichotomous keys used by scientists are arranged in steps with two _______________.

statements. Signup and view all the answers

List the five taxonomic kingdoms.

Animal, Plant, Protista, Fungi, Bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is an organism?

Any living thing. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cell?

The smallest unit of an organism that can carry on life functions. Signup and view all the answers

What is homeostasis?

Regulation of an organism's internal, life-maintaining conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What do cells contain?

DNA. Signup and view all the answers

Anything that causes some change in an organism is a _____________.

stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

A ___________ is the reaction to the stimulus.

response. Signup and view all the answers

Some examples of homeostasis in your body include changes in , , and __ levels.

temperature, water, food. Signup and view all the answers

Most organisms get energy directly or indirectly from the _______.

sun. Signup and view all the answers

Growth of a many-celled organism is mostly due to an increase in the number of __________.

cells. Signup and view all the answers

The amount of time you are expected to live is called a ________.

life span. Signup and view all the answers

____________ is necessary for the continuation of a species.

Reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification Terminology

Common names vary regionally and lack scientific precision.
Phylogeny refers to the evolutionary history of organisms, grouping them into six kingdoms based on ancestral lineage.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

The kingdom is the largest category for classifying organisms, consisting of five groups: animals, plants, bacteria, protists, and fungi.
Binomial nomenclature assigns a two-word scientific name to each organism, using Latin.
The genus is the first part of the scientific name, indicating a group of related species.

Historical Classification Systems

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, developed the earliest classification system, dividing organisms into two kingdoms: plants and animals.
Aristotle's plant classification relied on size and structure, while animal classification was based on habitat.
Criticism of Aristotle's system included its numerous exceptions.

Modern Classification

Carl Linnaeus is known as the father of modern classification, organizing organisms by similar characteristics.
Binomial nomenclature, a two-word naming system created by Linnaeus, is still widely used today.
Classification relies on both observable traits and modern techniques, including ancestral lineage and chemical composition, which provide deeper insights.

Modern Taxonomy

Organisms are currently classified into five kingdoms: animals, plants, protists, fungi, and bacteria.
The hierarchy of classification includes: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

Dichotomous Keys

Dichotomous keys are tools used to classify organisms based on a structured list of traits, arranged in steps with two descriptive statements.
Without standardized scientific names, sharing information about organisms would lead to confusion and errors.

Characteristics of Living Things

A living organism is defined as any entity that exhibits characteristics such as growth, reproduction, adaptation, cellular organization, and energy utilization.
Cells are the smallest units capable of performing life functions, and they contain DNA.
Homeostasis refers to the regulation of internal conditions in organisms.

Organism Responses & Environmental Interactions

A stimulus is any change that provokes a response in an organism.
Responses are reactions to stimuli, exemplified by actions triggered by specific environmental cues.
Homeostasis is maintained through various factors, including temperature, water, and food levels.

Life Span and Reproductive Necessity

An organism’s expected lifespan is defined as its life span.
Reproduction is essential for the continuation of species and is a key characteristic of living organisms.

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Description

Explore the various classification systems of organisms from Aristotle's early methods to modern taxonomic hierarchies. This quiz covers key terminology and concepts related to phylogeny, binomial nomenclature, and the classification of living organisms into kingdoms. Test your knowledge on how organisms are categorized based on their evolutionary history.