Biology Taxonomy Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is taxonomy?

Study of geological formations

Discipline of classifying organisms (correct)

A method of DNA analysis

A system for cellular organization

What is binomial nomenclature?

A system for giving each organism a two-word scientific name that consists of the genus name followed by the species name.

What does genus refer to in biology?

Taxonomic group containing one or more species.

What is a taxon?

A group of organisms at any level. Signup and view all the answers

Define family in biological classification.

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

What is an order in biological taxonomy?

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

What is class in the context of biological taxonomy?

Taxon containing several orders. Signup and view all the answers

Define phylum.

Taxon containing several classes. Signup and view all the answers

What is a kingdom in biological classification?

Taxon containing several phyla. Signup and view all the answers

What does phylogeny represent in biology?

The sequence of events involved in the evolutionary development of a species or taxonomic group of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is evolutionary classification?

Method of grouping organisms together according to their evolutionary history. Signup and view all the answers

What is a derived character?

Characteristic that appears in recent parts of a lineage, but not in its older members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cladogram?

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms based on shared, derived traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is a molecular clock?

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

What is the domain in biological classification?

A taxonomic category above the kingdom level. Signup and view all the answers

What defines bacteria as a domain?

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

What characterizes eubacteria?

Kingdom of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan. Signup and view all the answers

What does archaea refer to?

Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls that do not contain peptidoglycan. Signup and view all the answers

Define archaebacteria.

Kingdom of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan. Signup and view all the answers

What does eukarya encompass?

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

What characterizes the kingdom Protista?

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

What defines fungi?

Domain Eukarya; heterotrophic; unicellular/multicellular; asexual/sexual reproduction. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the kingdom Plantae?

Made up of complex, multicellular organisms that usually have cell walls made of cellulose and use sunlight to make sugar by photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What defines the kingdom Animalia?

Made up of complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls and can usually move around. Signup and view all the answers

What do all organisms have in common?

They all have DNA and RNA. Signup and view all the answers

How many species have scientists been able to identify?

Around 1.5 million. Signup and view all the answers

What does the presence of similar genes in very dissimilar organisms imply?

They have a common ancestor through evolution. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the modern taxonomic system?

Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

On what basis do scientists organize living things?

Based on physical similarities and differences. Signup and view all the answers

What do traditional classifications primarily take into account?

Physical traits and characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What makes up a scientific name?

The genus name followed by the species name. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification and Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the discipline focused on classifying organisms and assigning them universally accepted names.
Binomial nomenclature consists of a two-word scientific name for organisms, structured as genus followed by species.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Genus is a taxonomic group that includes one or more species.
A taxon is defined as a group of organisms classified at any taxonomic level.
Family includes one or more genera, while order encompasses one or more families.
Class groups several orders together, and phylum contains multiple classes.
Kingdom is the broadest taxonomic category, including several phyla.

Evolution and Relationships

Phylogeny illustrates the evolutionary development sequences of species or taxonomic groups.
Evolutionary classification groups organisms by their evolutionary history, reflecting common descent.
Derived characters are traits that appear in newer lineage parts, not found in older members.
Cladograms represent evolutionary relationships based on shared derived traits.

Molecular and Taxonomic Models

Molecular clocks estimate the duration two species have evolved independently, using DNA comparisons.
Domains represent a taxonomic category above kingdoms, categorized into Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Domains and Kingdoms

Bacteria: A domain of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan in their cell walls.
Eubacteria is a kingdom within Bacteria, consisting of prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls.
Archaea are another domain of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls lack peptidoglycan; archaebacteria is the kingdom equivalent.
Eukarya includes all organisms with nuclei and is divided into kingdoms:
- Protista: Eukaryotes not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
- Fungi: Heterotrophic organisms, either unicellular or multicellular, reproducing sexually or asexually.
- Plantae: Complex, multicellular organisms, usually green, with cellulose cell walls, unable to move, using photosynthesis.
- Animalia: Multicellular organisms without cell walls, capable of movement and responsive to their environment.

Commonalities and Discoveries

All organisms share DNA and RNA as fundamental components.
Approximately 1.5 million species have been identified by scientists.
Similar genes in vastly different organisms suggest a common ancestor, indicative of evolutionary processes.
The modern taxonomic system was developed by Linnaeus, emphasizing physical similarities and differences.
Traditional classifications generally focus primarily on physical traits and characteristics.
Scientific names consist of the genus name followed by the species name.

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Description

Test your knowledge of classification and taxonomy in biology with these flashcards. Each card features a term and its definition, helping you understand key concepts such as binomial nomenclature and the genus. Perfect for students studying biological sciences or anyone interested in taxonomy.