Questions and Answers
What is classification?
What is taxonomy?
The science of classifying organisms.
What is binomial nomenclature?
Classification system where each species is assigned a two-part scientific name.
What is a taxon?
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What does the term domain refer to?
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What is a kingdom in biological classification?
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What does phylum contain?
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What is a class in biological terms?
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What is an order in classification?
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What is a family in taxonomy?
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What does genus refer to?
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What is phylogeny?
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What are characters in biology?
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What is a molecular clock?
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What is cladistics?
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What is a cladogram?
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What does archaea refer to?
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What is meant by protist?
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What is a fungus?
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Study Notes
Classification and Taxonomy
- Classification groups organisms based on similarities and criteria.
- Taxonomy is the scientific discipline focused on identifying, naming, and classifying species through natural relationships.
Nomenclature and Taxa
- Binomial nomenclature assigns a two-part scientific name to each species (genus followed by species).
- Taxon refers to a named group of organisms within the classification system.
Hierarchical Classification
- Domain encompasses one or more kingdoms, representing the highest taxonomic rank.
- Kingdom consists of related phyla or divisions, constituting a more specific classification.
- Phylum (or division in plants) comprises related classes, serving to categorize organisms based on broader characteristics.
- Class contains related orders, further refining the classification.
- Order consists of related families, grouping organisms sharing significant traits.
- Family consists of similar genera, allowing for closer categorization within broader groups.
- Genus groups closely related species with a common ancestor.
Evolutionary and Molecular Concepts
- Phylogeny describes the evolutionary history of a species, illustrating how species are related.
- Characters are inherited features that show variation among species, aiding classification.
- Molecular clock compares DNA sequences of species to estimate divergence time since a common ancestor.
- Cladistics classifies organisms based on common ancestry, evaluating the order of divergence from ancestors.
- A cladogram is a branching diagram depicting the proposed phylogenetic relationships among species.
Domains of Life
- Archaea represents a domain of unicellular prokaryotes lacking peptidoglycan in their cell walls, often described as ancient organisms.
- Protists are diverse eukaryotes that can be unicellular, multicellular, or colonial, with cell walls potentially containing cellulose and exhibiting various life forms (plant, animal, or fungus-like).
- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms, either unicellular or multicellular, that absorb nutrients from organic materials in their environment.
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Description
Explore key concepts in biology taxonomy with these flashcards. Learn about classification, taxonomy, and binomial nomenclature as you familiarize yourself with the science of organizing living organisms. Perfect for students seeking a deeper understanding of biological classification.
