Biology Taxonomy and Classification

Questions and Answers

What is classification?

The arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities and their DNA.

Why do scientists classify organisms?

To make sense of millions of organisms.

To understand evolutionary relationships.

To group organisms universally.

All of the above. (correct)

List the 7 levels of classification.

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

What is taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the science of identifying, naming, and classifying organisms. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Carolus Linnaeus?

The founder of the science of taxonomy. Signup and view all the answers

What did early scientists use to help classify organisms?

They based classification on visible, physical traits and anatomy of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What do modern day scientists use to classify organisms?

Modern classification is based on similarities and differences in organisms' DNA. Signup and view all the answers

What is a scientific name?

A name made up of the organism's genus and species names. Signup and view all the answers

Why are scientific names important to scientists?

They help eliminate confusion around common names and language barriers. Signup and view all the answers

What is a dichotomous key?

An aid to identify unknown organisms using pairs of descriptive statements. Signup and view all the answers

List the six kingdoms.

Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista, Plantae, Fungi, Animalia. Signup and view all the answers

Will there always be six kingdoms used for classifying organisms?

False Signup and view all the answers

What defines Archaebacteria?

Ancient bacteria that live in extreme environments, are prokaryotic, and unicellular. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Eubacteria?

Bacteria found in diverse environments, are prokaryotic, and unicellular. Signup and view all the answers

What are prokaryotes?

Cells that do not have a nucleus or membrane-covered organelles. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Protista?

A kingdom of organisms that can be heterotrophs or autotrophs, eukaryotic, and unicellular or multi-cellular. Signup and view all the answers

What are eukaryotes?

Cells that contain a central nucleus and a complex internal structure. Signup and view all the answers

What organisms are included in Protista?

Organisms that are not plants, animals, or fungi. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Plantae?

Complex, multicellular organisms that use the sun's energy to make sugar by photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What process do plants use to make sugar?

Photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Fungi?

Organisms that obtain food by breaking down other substances in their surroundings. Signup and view all the answers

List two examples of fungi.

Molds, mushrooms. Signup and view all the answers

What defines Animalia?

Complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls and can move around. Signup and view all the answers

Do animal cells have cell walls?

False Signup and view all the answers

Which kingdom do humans belong to?

Animalia. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification

Arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on similarities and DNA.

Importance of Classification

Organizing the millions of organisms on Earth.
Understanding both unique and shared characteristics of organisms.
Provides a universal grouping system.
Illuminates evolutionary relationships among organisms.

7 Levels of Classification

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Taxonomy

Science of identifying, naming, and classifying organisms.
Founded by Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s.

Carolus Linnaeus

Pioneered the field of taxonomy in the 18th century.

Early Scientific Classification

Based primarily on visible physical traits and anatomy of organisms.

Modern Scientific Classification

Uses DNA similarities and differences to clarify evolutionary relationships.

Scientific Names

Composed of genus and species names, typically with Greek or Latin roots.
Names are symbolic or represent characteristics of the organism.

Importance of Scientific Names

Eliminates confusion from common names.
Reduces language barriers in scientific communication.

Dichotomous Key

Tool for identifying unknown organisms through a series of paired statements.
Users work through questions based on an organism's characteristics.

Six Kingdoms of Life

Archaebacteria
Eubacteria
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Potential for more kingdoms to be added as knowledge of organisms expands.

Archaebacteria

Ancient bacteria thriving in extreme environments.
Can be heterotrophic or autotrophic, prokaryotic, and unicellular.

Eubacteria

Common bacteria found in diverse environments, including the human body.
Also can be heterotrophic or autotrophic, prokaryotic, and unicellular.

Prokaryotes

Cells lacking a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
Simple and small in structure.

Protista

Kingdom of organisms that can be heterotrophic or autotrophic.
Eukaryotic and can be unicellular or multicellular.

Eukaryotes

Cells containing a nucleus and a complex internal structure.

Definition of Protists

Eukaryotic organisms that do not fall into the plant, animal, or fungi kingdoms.

Plantae

Complex, usually green, multicellular organisms that perform photosynthesis.
Autotrophic, eukaryotic, and typically multicellular.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants make sugar using sunlight energy.

Fungi

Organisms that decompose substances in their environment to absorb nutrients.
Can be heterotrophic, eukaryotic, and may be unicellular or multicellular.

Examples of Fungi

Molds
Mushrooms

Animalia

Complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls and have nervous systems.
Heterotrophic, eukaryotic, and multicellular.

Animal Cell Characteristics

Unlike cells of fungi, plants, and most protists, animal cells do not have cell walls.

Classification of Humans

Belong to the kingdom Animalia.
Characteristics: complex, multicellular, nucleus-containing cells with no chlorophyll.
Also categorized under Chordata (spinal cord) and Mammalia (warm-blooded, nursing).

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of organism classification in biology. This quiz covers the importance of taxonomy, the levels of classification, and the historical contributions of Carolus Linnaeus. Test your knowledge on the modern and early methods of scientific classification.