Molecular Biology Section 17.4

A standard system used to give each species a scientific name consisting of two parts - genus and species.

The first part of a scientific name, written in uppercase, that groups together physically similar species assumed to be closely related.

The second part of a scientific name, written in lowercase, identifies a particular species within a genus.

Both parts of a scientific name are written in italics.

Latin is used for the scientific names of species.

Ribosomes are cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis, made up of ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Ribosomes are found in all living organisms and are essential for protein synthesis, making them a useful tool for studying the relationships between different species.

Conservative regions within genes, such as those found in ribosomal RNA, accumulate mutations slowly over long periods, making them ideal for comparing distantly related species.

Domains are the highest level of classification in the biological hierarchy, encompassing three main groups: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

The kingdoms within Eukarya include Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, and Protista, each with distinct characteristics and evolutionary histories.