Organism Identification Methods and Taxonomy vs. Phylogenetics

What is the main focus of taxonomy?

Which study uses heritable traits like morphology and DNA sequences to infer evolutionary history?

What is a phylogeny?

How does phylogenetics impact traditional classification?

Which organisms are examples of taxonomic groups?

What do model organisms have in common?

How can genetic evidence help reveal relatedness among organisms?

What is the primary basis of classic taxonomy classification?

Which study focuses on creating phylogenetic trees?

Identification and Classification of Organisms

Organisms can be identified using classification guides, biological keys, DNA analysis, or protein analysis
Two approaches to classification: taxonomy and phylogenetics

Taxonomy

Involves identification and naming of organisms and their grouping based on shared characteristics
Classic taxonomy classification is based on morphology
Allows for familiarization with taxonomic groups, enabling predictions and inferences to be made between the biology of an organism and better-known (model) organisms

Phylogenetics

Study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms
Uses heritable traits such as morphology, DNA sequences, and protein structure to make inferences about an organism's evolutionary history
Creates a phylogeny (or phylogenetic tree), a diagrammatic hypothesis of an organism's relationships to other organisms
Reveals relatedness obscured by divergent and convergent evolution
Changing traditional classification of many organisms

Model Organisms

Examples include the bacterium E. coli, the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and the nematode C. elegans
Models are either easily studied or have been well-studied, allowing for predictions and inferences to be made about other organisms

Explore different methods for identifying organisms in a sample, including classification guides, biological keys, and DNA/protein analysis. Understand the differences between taxonomy, which focuses on naming and classifying organisms based on shared characteristics, and phylogenetics, which studies evolutionary history and relationships among organisms.