Questions and Answers
What do taxonomists do?
What is binomial nomenclature?
The naming system for organisms that includes the genus and species names.
What is the broadest category in the Linnaean classification system?
Kingdom
What does the phylum Chordata denote?
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What defines the class Mammalia?
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What category is the gray wolf placed in based on its diet?
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What family do dog-like animals belong to?
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What is the first category named in binomial nomenclature?
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What is unique about the species category?
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What does phylogeny study?
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What is phylogenesis?
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What is a phylogenetic tree?
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What does a tree structure in a phylogenetic tree represent?
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What is a clade?
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Study Notes
Taxonomists
- Arrange organisms into groups and assign names to them
- Introduced a universal naming system for organisms
Binomial Nomenclature
- Naming system helps avoid errors in identification
- Genus name is capitalized and listed first; species name is lowercase and follows
- Both names are italicized in print
Kingdom
- Broadest category in the Linnaean classification system
- Includes approximately two million species
- Example: gray wolf is classified within the kingdom Animalia, which encompasses all animals
Phylum
- Taxon category for animals with similar body types
- Gray wolf belongs to phylum Chordata, indicating it has a backbone
Class
- Groups organisms by outer covering and parental care methods
- Gray wolf is part of the class Mammalia, which has approximately 5000 species
- Members possess hair for insulation and mammary glands for nursing young
Order
- Taxon category that groups organisms based on dietary habits
- Gray wolf is classified in the order Carnivora, comprising meat-eating mammals
Family
- Taxon category for organisms sharing physical characteristics like teeth type and body shape
- All dog-like animals in Carnivora are classified under the family Canidae, including wolves, jackals, and domestic dogs
Genus
- Taxon category for organisms with closely related characteristics, differentiated by unique traits
- Gray wolf is in the genus Canis, which includes similar dog-like animals while excluding domestic dogs
Species
- The final taxon level, identifying a single organism by unique characteristics
- Gray wolf's species name is lupus, derived from Latin meaning "wolf"
Phylogeny
- Study of evolutionary history of a species, tracing traits to ancestral lineage
Phylogenesis
- Sequence of evolutionary changes within a species, can clarify or modify Linnaean classification
Phylogenetic Tree
- A branching diagram representing evolutionary relationships
Tree Structure
- Phylogenetic tree depicts hypotheses about evolutionary ties
- Relationships shown as dichotomies or two-way branch points indicating species divergence
Branching Relationships
- Organisms C and D are closely related, as well as A and B
- C, D, and E share enough similarities to form a clade based on common ancestry
Clade
- Group of species that share a common ancestor and are categorized together due to this lineage
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Description
Explore fundamental concepts in classification systems with these flashcards. Learn about taxonomists and the binomial nomenclature used for naming organisms accurately. Ideal for biology students seeking to understand essential classification terminology.
