Crash Course Biology: Taxonomy Flashcards

Study Notes

Taxonomy Overview

Taxonomy is the discipline focused on classifying organisms and assigning universally accepted names.
A phylogenetic tree visually represents evolutionary relationships among different groups of organisms.

Key Figures

Carl Linnaeus, known as the "Father of Taxonomy," established vital classification systems and is renowned for binomial nomenclature, which gives each organism a two-part scientific name.

Types of Traits

Analogous traits are similarities between species not due to common ancestry but rather independent evolutionary processes, often driven by natural selection.
Homologous traits are features inherited from a recent common ancestor, indicating direct evolutionary relationships.

Taxonomic Categories

Taxa refer to the various categories used in the classification system to organize living organisms.
Binomial nomenclature consists of a two-word naming system, comprising the genus and species names for each organism.

Domains and Kingdoms

Domains represent the highest taxonomic category above the kingdom level, consisting of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.
Kingdoms are the largest groups in biological classification and include:
- Protista: Unicellular organisms that are neither animals nor plants, including certain algae, slime molds, and protozoa, capable of both autotrophy and heterotrophy.
- Fungi: Comprise heterotrophic organisms that derive energy and nutrients from decaying organic matter.
- Animalia: Complex, multicellular organisms that typically lack cell walls, can move, and respond rapidly to their environment, all being heterotrophic.
- Plantae: Composed of multicellular photosynthetic autotrophs with cell walls rich in cellulose.

Description

Test your knowledge of taxonomy with these flashcards. Explore essential terms such as taxonomy itself, phylogenetic trees, and influential figures like Carl Linnaeus. Perfect for mastering the classification of living organisms.