Questions and Answers
What is the process of grouping things based upon?
What is taxonomy?
The study of how organisms are classified based on structural characteristics and genetic comparisons.
What is binominal nomenclature?
Giving each organism a two-word scientific name using their genus and species.
What does taxa (Taxon) refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Prokaryotic organisms have a nucleus.
Signup and view all the answers
Eukaryotic cells are characterized by the presence of membrane-bound organelles.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a heterotroph?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an autotroph?
Signup and view all the answers
A unicellular organism consists of multiple cells.
Signup and view all the answers
Multicellular organisms are composed of many cells.
Signup and view all the answers
What domain includes the kingdom Archaebacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
What domain includes the kingdom Eubacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
What domain includes kingdoms of all eukaryotes?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes Archaebacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of Eubacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
What kingdom is characterized by having a nucleus and is unicellular?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of fungi?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of Plantae?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the characteristics of Animalia?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'primitive' refer to in biological terms?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a cladogram?
Signup and view all the answers
How many different organisms have scientists discovered and named?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'taxa' refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Order the classification from smallest to largest taxa: ___; phylum; class; order; family; genus; species.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the smallest and most specific category in classification?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a genus?
Signup and view all the answers
Species are defined as organisms with different shapes and structures.
Signup and view all the answers
What is a scientific name composed of?
Signup and view all the answers
What comparisons more accurately tell how closely related organisms are?
Signup and view all the answers
What determines the domain to which organisms belong?
Signup and view all the answers
What are kingdoms based on?
Signup and view all the answers
What language is used to give scientific names of all living things?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the largest group in the current system of classification?
Signup and view all the answers
Which Taxon includes a larger number of species?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Classification and Taxonomy
- Classification refers to grouping organisms based on shared characteristics.
- Taxonomy is the scientific study focused on classifying organisms through structural traits and genetic data.
Naming Organisms
- Binomial nomenclature is a two-word naming system for organisms, combining genus and species names.
- Scientific names are typically derived from Latin.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
- Organisms are categorized in a hierarchical system: domain > kingdom > phylum > class > order > family > genus > species.
- The smallest taxonomic unit is species, defined by organisms' ability to reproduce and create fertile offspring.
Cellular Structure
- Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, exemplified by bacteria.
- Eukaryotic cells contain a nucleus and organelles, represented by plants and animals.
Nutrition Types
- Heterotrophs obtain food by consuming other organisms, known as consumers.
- Autotrophs produce their own energy through processes like photosynthesis, recognized as producers.
Organism Types
- Unicellular organisms consist of a single cell, while multicellular organisms are composed of multiple cells.
Domains of Life
- Archaea is a domain that encompasses the kingdom Archaebacteria, consisting of unicellular organisms without a nucleus.
- Bacteria includes the kingdom Eubacteria, representing common unicellular bacteria.
- Eukarya includes all eukaryotic organisms, subdivided into kingdoms: Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Kingdom Characteristics
- Archaebacteria: unicellular, no nucleus, resembles early Earth life forms.
- Eubacteria: unicellular, no nucleus, includes common modern bacteria.
- Protista: eukaryotic and mostly unicellular organisms.
- Fungi: eukaryotic, heterotrophic, largely multicellular, with cell walls made of chitin.
- Plantae: eukaryotic, autotrophic, multicellular, with cell walls made of cellulose; includes mosses and flowering plants.
- Animalia: eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, no cell walls; includes diverse life forms from sponges to mammals.
Evolutionary Relationships
- Cladograms visually represent evolutionary relationships among organisms, showing common ancestors.
Scientific Progress
- Approximately 2 million species recognized; the discovery of new organisms is an ongoing process.
- DNA and protein comparisons provide deeper insights into the relationships between organisms.
Language and Classification
- Latin is the standardized language for formatting scientific names.
- Domains represent the broadest category in current classification systems, including prokaryotes (no nucleus) and eukaryotes (with nucleus).
Taxonomic Confusion
- Phylum includes more organisms than the order, as it is a broader category within the classification hierarchy.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Flashcards covering key terms in classification of life, including taxonomy, binominal nomenclature, and taxa.
