Human Taxonomy Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is taxonomy?

The branch of science which deals with classification of organisms into groups with similar characteristics.

What are the two branches of taxonomy?

Nomenclature and systematics.

What is nomenclature?

The naming of organisms.

What is systematics?

Placing organisms into groups. Signup and view all the answers

Who pioneered the biological nomenclature system?

Carl Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

What is the binomial system?

Each organism has two Latin names, a generic name beginning with a capital letter and a species name beginning with a lowercase/small/italicized letter. Signup and view all the answers

What are domains?

Largest category of biological classification. Includes 3 categories: eubacteria, archae, eukarya. Signup and view all the answers

What are kingdoms?

The five categories under domains: Fungi, Monera, Protista, Plantae, and Animalia. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of Monera?

Eubacteria or archae, prokaryotic, unicellular, microscopic. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of Protista?

Unicellular, microscopic, eukaryotic, membrane-bound organelles. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of fungi?

Unicellular (yeast), multicellular (molds), eukaryotes, saprobes (decaying/dead). Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of Plantae?

Multicellular, photosynthetic/autotrophic. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of Animalia?

Unicellular, microscopic, eukaryotic, membrane-bound organelles, heterotrophic, muscle tissue for movement. Signup and view all the answers

What are the general characteristics of the animal kingdom?

Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, muscle tissue, nervous cell/tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What phylum do humans belong to?

Chordata. Signup and view all the answers

What is a notochord?

Firm, flexible rod of supporting tissue. Signup and view all the answers

What are the features of the notochord?

Dorsal aspect of embryo, allows body parts to specialize, gives rise to intervertebral discs and body of vertebrae. Signup and view all the answers

What other characteristics do Chordata have?

Pharyngeal gill slits and pouches in womb, presence of a hollow tubular nerve cord, and post-anal tail. Signup and view all the answers

What do the pharyngeal gill slits and pouches develop into?

Wall of tonsils, pharyngeal antrum (middle ear) and tympanic tube (eustachian tube), first pair of parathyroid glands and thymus gland, second pair of parathyroid glands and part of thyroid gland. Signup and view all the answers

What other animals are considered part of the Chordata phylum?

Fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals. Signup and view all the answers

What does the hollow tubular nerve cord develop into?

Gives rise to spinal cord, extends into the brain. It lies above the notochord. Signup and view all the answers

What does the post-anal tail develop into?

Final coccyx vertebrae. Signup and view all the answers

What are the general characteristics of Mammalia?

Mammary glands, pili, endothermic (generate own heat), homeothermic (warm-blooded), heterodontic (more than one tooth morphology). Signup and view all the answers

What order are humans a part of?

Primata. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of the Primata order?

Incisors, 2 clavicles, 2 functional mammary glands, pendulous penis, forward-directed eyes, stereoscopic vision, flat nails, opposable thumbs, arboreal. Signup and view all the answers

What family are humans a part of?

Hominidae. Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of the Hominidae family?

Bipedalism, large cerebral hemisphere development (complex thinking and speech). Signup and view all the answers

What is the binomial name for humans?

Homo sapiens. Signup and view all the answers

What is human taxonomy?

Kingdom - Animalia, Phylum - Vertebrata (Chordata), Class - Mammalia, Order - Primates, Family - Hominidae, Genus - Homo, Species - sapiens. Signup and view all the answers

What is evolution?

Simply means change in the genetic composition of a population of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is natural selection?

The principal theory of how evolution works. The evolution of more advantageous characteristics. Known as survival of the fittest. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taxonomy

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms based on shared characteristics.
It encompasses two primary branches: nomenclature (naming organisms) and systematics (organizing organisms into groups).

Nomenclature & Systematics

Nomenclature refers specifically to the naming conventions used in biology.
Systematics involves the classification and organization of living things.

Pioneers of Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus is credited with developing the biological nomenclature system, creating a framework for naming species.

Binomial System

The binomial nomenclature system assigns two Latin names to each organism: a generic name (capitalized) and a species name (italicized and lowercase).

Biological Classification Domains

Three main domains of life exist: Eubacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
These domains represent the highest level of biological categorization.

Kingdoms of Life

Life is further divided into five kingdoms: Fungi, Monera, Protista, Plantae, and Animalia.

Characteristics of Life Forms

Monera: Characterized by being prokaryotic, unicellular, and microscopic.
Protista: Unicellular and microscopic with eukaryotic cells and membrane-bound organelles.
Fungi: Eukaryotic organisms that can be unicellular (yeast) or multicellular (molds) and are saprophytic.
Plantae: Multicellular and primarily autotrophic, utilizing photosynthesis.
Animalia: Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic organisms that possess muscle tissue.

Animal Kingdom Overview

General traits of the animal kingdom include being eukaryotic, multicellular, and having heterotrophic diets, muscle tissues, and nervous tissues.

Chordata Phylum

Humans belong to the phylum Chordata, characterized by the presence of a notochord.

Notochord Features

A notochord is a flexible supporting rod that helps in the specialization of body parts and eventually develops into the vertebral structure.

Additional Chordate Characteristics

Key characteristics include pharyngeal gill slits, a hollow nerve cord, and a post-anal tail.

Development from Features

Pharyngeal gill slits develop into various structures, including tonsils and glands.
The hollow nerve cord evolves into the spinal cord and brain, positioned above the notochord.
The post-anal tail becomes the coccyx.

Mammalia Characteristics

Mammals possess mammary glands, fur (pili), endothermic properties, and heterodont dentition.

Primata Order

Humans fall under the order Primata, distinguished by specific dental structures, clavicles, and stereoscopic vision.

Hominidae Family

The family Hominidae includes species that exhibit bipedalism and a significantly developed cerebral hemisphere, allowing for complex behaviors.

Human Classification

Binomial name for humans is Homo sapiens.
Taxonomy levels for humans: Kingdom - Animalia, Phylum - Vertebrata (Chordata), Class - Mammalia, Order - Primates, Family - Hominidae, Genus - Homo, Species - sapiens.

Evolution & Natural Selection

Evolution is defined as a change in the genetic composition of organisms over generations.
Natural selection is a key mechanism in evolution, favoring traits that enhance survival and reproduction, commonly referred to as "survival of the fittest."

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of human taxonomy with these flashcards. Learn about the classification of organisms, the branches of taxonomy, and key terms like nomenclature and systematics. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of biological classification.