Microorganisms Taxonomy and Classification Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is taxonomy?

A formal system for organizing, classifying, and naming living things. (correct)

The process of discovering and recording the traits of organisms.

The scheme that represents the natural relatedness between groups.

An arrangement in order of rank.

What are taxa?

Taxonomic categories.

What does classification attempt to achieve?

Orderly arrangement of organisms into a hierarchy of taxa.

What is identification in microbiology?

The process of discovering and recording the traits of organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is the binomial system of nomenclature?

A scientific method of assigning names to organisms that employs two names. Signup and view all the answers

What are the taxonomic categories from top to bottom?

Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species. Signup and view all the answers

What is the broadest category in the levels of classification?

Domain. Signup and view all the answers

What is a kingdom in biological classification?

The second division from more general to more specific. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phylum?

The third level of classification from general to more specific. Signup and view all the answers

What follows the phylum in classification?

Class. Signup and view all the answers

What is the order in terms of biological classification?

A division of organisms that follows class. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes family in classification?

A midlevel division grouping closely related organisms. Signup and view all the answers

What is genus in biological taxonomy?

The second most specific level of classification. Signup and view all the answers

What is a species?

The most specific level of organization. Signup and view all the answers

What are hierarchies?

Levels of power arranged in order of rank. Signup and view all the answers

What does phylogeny represent?

The scheme that represents the natural relatedness between groups. Signup and view all the answers

What is natural selection?

The process of evolution as selective for survival traits. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two preconceptions of evolution?

<ol> <li>All new species originate from preexisting species. 2) Closely related organisms have similar features due to a common ancestor.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is reductive evolution?

Evolution that regresses toward lesser complexity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a clade?

A specialized group of organisms with regard to relatedness by descent. Signup and view all the answers

What are proteins and nucleic acids in the context of microbiology?

Two classes of macromolecules that contribute to cellular structure and function. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Woese-Fox System?

A system for representing the origins of cell lines and major taxonomic groups. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taxonomy and Classification

Taxonomy is a formal system for classifying, organizing, and naming living organisms.
Taxa refer to the various categories used in taxonomic classification.
Classification arranges organisms into a hierarchy of categories known as taxa from general to specific.
Identification involves documenting traits of organisms for recognition and classification within a taxonomic framework.

Naming Organisms

The binomial system of nomenclature uses two names to identify organisms: a capitalized genus name and a lowercase species name, both italicized or underlined when handwritten.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

The levels of classification include:
- Domain (broadest category sharing general traits)
- Kingdom (second division within domains)
- Phylum (third level, often referred to as a division in some organisms)
- Class (follows phylum)
- Order (follows class, where organisms show increasing similarities)
- Family (groups closely related organisms within an order)
- Genus (second most specific level, divided into several species)
- Species (most specific level of organization)

Evolution and Relatedness

Hierarchies represent levels of power and rank among organisms.
Phylogeny refers to the relatedness of groups of organisms through descent.
Natural selection is the evolutionary process favoring traits that enhance survival.
Two preconceptions of evolution include the origin of new species from preexisting ones and the similarity of closely related organisms due to a common ancestor.

Evolutionary Concepts

Reductive evolution describes a regression toward lesser complexity, contrasting with the typical trend toward greater complexity.
A clade is a group of related organisms distinguished by their descent.

Molecular Biology and Taxonomy

Proteins and nucleic acids are key macromolecules used to study organismal differences, as their sequences can be aligned and compared for relatedness.

Woese-Fox System

Proposed by Carl Woese, this system categorizes cell lines and major taxonomic groups into three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, indicating evolutionary relationships among them.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the terminology and concepts related to the taxonomy and classification of microorganisms. This quiz covers key terms such as 'taxonomy', 'taxa', 'classification', and 'identification', aiding in your understanding of biological organization.