Biology Taxonomy Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is taxonomy?

The process of genetic selection

The study of plant growth

The science of classifying organisms (correct)

The study of animal behavior

What defines a species?

The basic grouping used in biological classification.

Not all members of a species look alike.

True

What is inherited variation?

The raw material of evolution. Signup and view all the answers

What is polymorphism?

When there are two or more forms that exist in the same population. Signup and view all the answers

What is geographic variation?

Occurs when a species occupies a large geographic range with distinct environments. Signup and view all the answers

What is individual variation?

Variation that occurs in all sexually reproducing populations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a species?

A population of individuals that breed and produce fertile offspring under natural conditions. Signup and view all the answers

How do species remain separate?

<ol> <li>Potential mates do not meet 2) Potential mates meet but do not breed 3) Potential mates meet and breed but do not produce fertile offspring.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is one limitation of the species concept?

It does not apply well to organisms that do not reproduce sexually. Signup and view all the answers

What is a second limitation of the species concept?

Even species that reproduce sexually may be only partly separated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a third limitation of the species concept?

It does not easily accommodate slow and unmeasurable changes in species. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics are used to classify organisms?

Structure, biochemistry, behavior, and genes. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics are the most useful in classifying animals?

Stable characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Classification focuses on structures that indicate what?

Related evolutionary ancestry. Signup and view all the answers

What are structural resemblances called?

Homologies. Signup and view all the answers

What are examples of homologous structures?

Flipper of a whale, wing of a bird, and the arm of a human. Signup and view all the answers

What are structures that are similar in appearance and function, but not the result of shared ancestry called?

Analogies. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of analogous structures?

A moth wing and a bird's wing. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the system used to classify organisms?

Carl von Linne, or Carolus Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

What is used to group species in larger and more general categories?

Homologies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for species with many similar characteristics?

Genus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the plural of genus?

Genera. Signup and view all the answers

What is family in biological classification?

Similar genera are grouped in the same family. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term order refer to in classification?

Animals with distinctive anatomy and way of life grouped together. Signup and view all the answers

What is a class in biological terms?

Even more general similarities put animals in the same class. Signup and view all the answers

What comes after class in biological classification?

Phylum. Signup and view all the answers

What term do botanists replace phylum with?

Divisions. Signup and view all the answers

What group are all animals classified in?

Animalia. Signup and view all the answers

Who changed Linnaeus's system?

Charles Darwin. Signup and view all the answers

After Darwin, classification became a way of describing what?

Evolutionary relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What is binomial nomenclature?

Two-word naming system employed by Linnaean system. Signup and view all the answers

The first word in binomial nomenclature is , the second is _.

Genus, particular species. Signup and view all the answers

What do together these two words form?

Scientific name. Signup and view all the answers

What does phenetics compare?

Organisms on the basis of as many characteristics as possible. Signup and view all the answers

What does phenetics give?

Equal importance to all characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What does phenetics not accommodate?

Consistently linear relationships in evolutionary history. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taxonomy and Species

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms based on their relationships and distinguishing characteristics.
A species is a fundamental grouping in biological classification, defined as a population that breeds and produces fertile offspring under natural conditions.
Inherited variation is the foundation of evolution.

Variation in Species

Members of a species may exhibit differences in appearance; not all look alike.
Polymorphism occurs when multiple forms exist within a single population.
Geographic variation arises when a species spreads across diverse environments, leading to distinct physical traits.

Reproductive Isolation

Species remain separate due to three main mechanisms:
- Lack of interaction among potential mates
- Mates interact but do not breed
- Mating occurs, but offspring are not viable or fertile.

Limitations of Species Concept

The species concept has limitations, especially for organisms that reproduce asexually.
Some sexually reproducing species may still have partial barriers to interbreeding.
Slow, measurable changes in species over time challenge the applicability of the species concept.

Classification Characteristics

Organisms are classified using structural, biochemical, behavioral, and genetic characteristics.
Stable traits are crucial for animal classification, with structural features being particularly significant.

Structural Relationships

Structural similarities that indicate a shared ancestry are known as homologies.
Homologous structures, such as the flipper of a whale, bird wing, and human arm, arise from common ancestry.
Similarities in appearance and function that do not derive from shared ancestry are called analogies, exemplified by moth and bird wings.

Classification System

Carl von Linne, also known as Carolus Linnaeus, formulated the system for classifying organisms.
Classification utilizes homologies to categorize species into broader groups.
Species with similar traits are classified within the same genus, with the plural form being genera.
Similar genera belong to the same family; distinctive animals are grouped in an order.
Classes contain groups with basic similarities, such as mammalia for fur and milk-producing attributes.
After class, organisms are sorted into phylum (or divisions for botanists).
All animals fall under the kingdom Animalia.

Evolution and Classification

Charles Darwin's work transformed Linnaeus's classification approach, correlating it with evolutionary relationships.
Binomial nomenclature, established by Linnaeus, uses a two-word naming system (first word: genus, second word: species) to identify organisms.

Phenetics in Taxonomy

Phenetics analyzes organisms based on a wide range of characteristics and assigns similarity scores based on shared traits.
It treats all characteristics equally, although it may overlook important phylogenetic relationships.

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Description

Test your knowledge on important biology concepts with this flashcard quiz on taxonomy and species classification. Each card provides definitions and key terms to help you understand the relationships among organisms. Perfect for biology students looking to reinforce their learning.