Biology Classification Vocabulary Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is biodiversity?

A system for naming organisms

A group of organisms that can reproduce

The variety of organisms at all levels from populations to ecosystems (correct)

The classification of plants and animals based on their relationships

What is taxonomy?

The practice of classifying plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships.

Define taxon.

A group or level of organization into which organisms are classified.

What is the domain in biological classification?

The most inclusive taxonomic category; larger than a kingdom. Signup and view all the answers

What is a kingdom in taxonomy?

The second largest taxonomic group; there are six - Animalia, Plantae, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Fungi. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phylum?

A major classification, second to kingdom, of plants and animals. Signup and view all the answers

Define division in the context of taxonomy.

A grouping of similar classes of plants. Signup and view all the answers

What is a class in biological classification?

A taxonomic group containing one or more orders. Signup and view all the answers

Define order in taxonomy.

A taxonomic group containing one or more families. Signup and view all the answers

What is a family in biological classification?

A taxonomic group containing one or more genera. Signup and view all the answers

What is a genus?

A taxonomic group containing one or more species. Signup and view all the answers

Define species.

A group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring. Signup and view all the answers

What is a subspecies?

Populations of the same species that differ genetically because of adaptations to different living conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Define variety in taxonomy.

A taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others in minor heritable characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What is a strain in biology?

A group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is binomial nomenclature?

A system for giving each organism a two-word scientific name consisting of the genus name followed by the species name. Signup and view all the answers

Define systematics.

The study of biological diversity in an environmental context, encompassing taxonomy and involving the reconstruction of phylogenetic history. Signup and view all the answers

What is phylogenetics?

The analysis of evolutionary, or ancestral, relationships between taxa. Signup and view all the answers

Define phylogenetic diagram (tree).

A branching diagram that models the relationships by ancestry between different species or taxonomic groups. Signup and view all the answers

What are homologous features?

Structures that share a common origin but may serve different functions in modern species. Signup and view all the answers

Define analogous features.

Features that are similar in appearance and function, but do not appear to have the same evolutionary origin. Signup and view all the answers

What is cladistics?

A biological classification system based on phylogeny; assumes groups of organisms diverge and evolve from a common ancestral group. Signup and view all the answers

What is a shared character?

A feature shared by all members of a particular group of organisms, an evolutionary novelty unique to a clade. Signup and view all the answers

Define derived character.

A feature that evolved only within a particular taxonomic group. Signup and view all the answers

What is a clade?

A group of species that includes an ancestral species and all its descendants. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cladogram?

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships among a group of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Define molecular clock.

Uses DNA comparisons to estimate the length of time that two species have been evolving independently. Signup and view all the answers

What is an amnion?

The extraembryonic membrane in birds, reptiles, and mammals that surrounds the embryo, forming an amniotic sac. Signup and view all the answers

Define eukaryote.

A cell that contains a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Signup and view all the answers

What is a prokaryote?

A unicellular organism having cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei. Signup and view all the answers

Define Bacteria.

Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls containing peptidoglycans. Signup and view all the answers

What is Archaea?

Single-celled, no nucleus, live in harsh conditions, oldest organisms on earth. Signup and view all the answers

Define Eukarya.

Domain of all organisms whose cells have nuclei, including protists, plants, fungi, and animals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Theory of Endosymbiosis?

Eukaryotes formed when a large prokaryote engulfed a smaller prokaryote, and the two organisms lived symbiotically, eventually evolving into a single organism. Signup and view all the answers

Define Archaebacteria.

Bacteria that live under extreme conditions such as high temperature, high salt content, and low oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What are Protista?

Kingdom composed of eukaryotes that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi. Signup and view all the answers

Define Fungi.

A kingdom of eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophic and digest their food externally, absorbing nutrient molecules into their cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is Plantae?

The taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct plants. Signup and view all the answers

Define Animalia.

The taxonomic kingdom comprising all living or extinct animals. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biodiversity and Classification

Biodiversity encompasses the variety of organisms across all levels, from populations to ecosystems.
Taxonomy is the systematic classification of plants and animals based on their natural relationships.
A taxon is a classification group that organizes organisms systematically.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Domain is the broadest taxonomic category, larger than a kingdom.
Kingdom is the second largest group, encompassing major life forms: Animalia, Plantae, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, and Fungi.
Phylum represents major classifications within kingdoms, while division specifically refers to plant groups.
Class groups organisms into one or more related orders; order contains families, and family includes one or more genera.
Genus consists of related species, leading to the most specific classification: species, which can breed to produce fertile offspring.

Subclassification

Subspecies showcases genetic variations of the same species due to different environmental adaptations.
Variety refers to species members with minor but heritable variations.
Strain indicates minor differences within species groups.

Naming and Classification Systems

Binomial nomenclature is a two-word naming system for organisms, combining genus and species names.
Systematics studies biological diversity in environmental contexts, involving both taxonomy and phylogenetic history.

Evolutionary Relationships

Phylogenetics analyzes the evolutionary relationships between taxa.
A phylogenetic diagram, or phylogenetic tree, visually represents ancestral relationships among species.
Homologous features originate from a common ancestor but serve different functions; e.g., dolphin flippers and human hands.
Analogous features are similar in function or appearance but do not have a shared evolutionary origin.

Cladistics and Characters

Cladistics is a biological classification method based on evolutionary history and derived traits.
Shared characters are features unique to a particular clade.
Derived characters evolve within specific taxonomic groups, defining their uniqueness.
A clade includes an ancestral species and all its descendants.

Diagrams and Analysis

Cladograms depict evolutionary relationships; molecular clocks estimate evolution timelines based on DNA comparisons.

Organism Classification

Amnion is an extraembryonic membrane in certain vertebrates that surrounds the embryo.
Eukaryotes have complex cells with nuclei and organelles, while prokaryotes are unicellular and lack membrane-bound nuclei.
Bacteria represent a domain of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls.
Archaea are ancient, single-celled organisms thriving in extreme environments.
Eukarya includes all organisms with nucleated cells, such as protists, plants, fungi, and animals.

Kingdom Descriptions

Archaebacteria thrive in extreme conditions (high temperature, salinity, reduced oxygen).
Protista consists of eukaryotic organisms not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
Fungi are eukaryotes that absorb nutrients externally; they are heterotrophic.
Plantae comprises all living or extinct plants, while Animalia includes all living or extinct animals.

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Description

Enhance your understanding of key terms in biological classification with this set of flashcards. Each card presents a word related to biodiversity and taxonomy, along with its definition. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their grasp of ecology and organism classification.