Podcast
Questions and Answers
What type of classification system shows the evolutionary history of species?
What type of classification system shows the evolutionary history of species?
- Ecological classification
- Phylogenetic classification (correct)
- Hierarchical classification
- Binomial nomenclature
Which Kingdom in the Six Kingdom System is unicellular, prokaryotic, and can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic?
Which Kingdom in the Six Kingdom System is unicellular, prokaryotic, and can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic?
- Fungi
- Protista
- Archaebacteria
- Eubacteria (correct)
In cladistics, what do scientists assume about the unique inherited characteristics of groups of organisms?
In cladistics, what do scientists assume about the unique inherited characteristics of groups of organisms?
- They are common to all species
- They are derived traits (correct)
- They are lost over time
- They are unrelated to evolution
Which Kingdom includes organisms like toadstools, mushrooms, puffballs, rusts, or smut?
Which Kingdom includes organisms like toadstools, mushrooms, puffballs, rusts, or smut?
Which characteristic is true about Kingdom Protista?
Which characteristic is true about Kingdom Protista?
Which taxonomic hierarchy level is represented by Kingdom Eubacteria?
Which taxonomic hierarchy level is represented by Kingdom Eubacteria?
What is the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their different characteristics?
What is the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their different characteristics?
Who is credited with developing the first widely accepted system of biological classification?
Who is credited with developing the first widely accepted system of biological classification?
Which naturalist devised a two-part naming system known as binomial nomenclature?
Which naturalist devised a two-part naming system known as binomial nomenclature?
What is the largest wild felid (cat) in the United States?
What is the largest wild felid (cat) in the United States?
In taxonomy, what is the purpose of classification?
In taxonomy, what is the purpose of classification?
Which system involves grouping organisms based on their evolutionary relationships and common ancestry?
Which system involves grouping organisms based on their evolutionary relationships and common ancestry?
What is the evolutionary history of a species called?
What is the evolutionary history of a species called?
Which taxon is the smallest in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Which taxon is the smallest in the taxonomic hierarchy?
What is the second-largest taxon in the taxonomic hierarchy?
What is the second-largest taxon in the taxonomic hierarchy?
Which mnemonic can be used to remember the taxonomic hierarchy from broad characteristics to specific ones?
Which mnemonic can be used to remember the taxonomic hierarchy from broad characteristics to specific ones?
Which kingdom do animals belong to in the six-kingdom system?
Which kingdom do animals belong to in the six-kingdom system?
What is the primary goal of placing organisms into logical categories in taxonomy?
What is the primary goal of placing organisms into logical categories in taxonomy?
Study Notes
Phylogenetic Classification
- A classification system that shows the evolutionary history of species is called a phylogenetic classification.
- It reveals the evolutionary relationships of species.
Cladistics
- Cladistics is a biological system of classification based on phylogeny.
- It assumes that groups of organisms retain unique inherited characteristics (derived traits) as they diverge and evolve from a common ancestral group.
Six Kingdom System
- Kingdom Archaebacteria: unicellular, prokaryote, autotroph or heterotroph, cell walls made of peptidoglycan, reproduces by binary fission, lives in harsh environments.
- Kingdom Eubacteria: unicellular, prokaryote, autotroph or heterotroph, cell walls made of peptidoglycan, reproduces by binary fission, includes common bacteria.
- Kingdom Protista: unicellular or multicellular, eukaryotic, cell walls made of varying materials, autotroph or heterotroph, about 50,000 species.
- Kingdom Fungi: unicellular or multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophic, cells walls made of chitin, reproduces asexually, about 100,000 species.
- Kingdom Plantae: multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophic, cell walls made of cellulose, can reproduce both ways.
Taxonomy and Classification
- Taxonomy is the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on their characteristics.
- Biologists who study taxonomy are called taxonomists.
- The Greek philosopher Aristotle developed the first widely accepted system of biological classification.
- There are over 1 million named species, with up to 15 million more estimated to exist.
- Taxonomy is not new; cultures have been naming plants and animals for thousands of years.
Binomial Nomenclature
- Carolus Linnaeus developed a two-part naming system known as binomial nomenclature.
- A group of organisms is called a taxon (plural, taxa).
- Organisms are ranked in taxa that range from having very broad characteristics to very specific ones.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
- The smallest taxon is a species.
- Organisms that look alike and successfully interbreed belong to the same species.
- The next largest taxon is a genus—a group of similar species that have similar features and are closely related.
- Taxonomic rankings include: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Specific epithet (species).
Taxonomic Goals
- Place organisms into logical categories for information retrieval.
- Place organisms into categories that show ancestor-descendant relationships.
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Description
Test your knowledge on phylogenetic classification, cladistics, and the six kingdom system. Learn about the evolutionary relationships of species and how derived traits are used in classification.
