Systematic Biology

Definition and Scope

• Systematic biology, also known as systematics, is the study of the diversity of life on Earth.
• It involves the identification, classification, and naming of organisms.
• Systematic biology encompasses the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

History

• Systematic biology has its roots in ancient Greece, with Aristotle's work on classification.
• Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) is considered the father of taxonomy, developing the modern system of binomial nomenclature.

Key Concepts

• Phylogeny: the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.
• Taxonomy: the classification and naming of organisms.
• Systematics: the study of the relationships among organisms, including their evolutionary history.

Methods

• Morphology: the study of the shape and structure of organisms.
• Anatomy: the study of the internal structure of organisms.
• Molecular systematics: the use of molecular data (e.g., DNA, proteins) to infer evolutionary relationships.

Applications

• Conservation biology: understanding the diversity of life informs conservation efforts.
• Forensic science: systematic biology is used in forensic analysis, e.g., identifying species from trace evidence.
• Agriculture: understanding the relationships among crop species informs breeding programs.

Subfields

• Botany: the study of plant diversity and evolution.
• Zoology: the study of animal diversity and evolution.
• Microbiology: the study of microbial diversity and evolution.

Definition and Scope

• Systematic biology is the study of diversity of life on Earth, involving identification, classification, and naming of organisms.
• It encompasses the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.

History

• Ancient Greece laid the foundation of systematic biology, with Aristotle's work on classification.
• Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) is considered the father of taxonomy, developing the modern system of binomial nomenclature.

Key Concepts

• Phylogeny: the study of evolutionary relationships among organisms.
• Taxonomy: the classification and naming of organisms.
• Systematics: the study of relationships among organisms, including their evolutionary history.

Methods

• Morphology: the study of shape and structure of organisms.
• Anatomy: the study of internal structure of organisms.
• Molecular systematics: the use of molecular data (e.g., DNA, proteins) to infer evolutionary relationships.

Applications

• Conservation biology: understanding diversity of life informs conservation efforts.
• Forensic science: systematic biology is used in forensic analysis, e.g., identifying species from trace evidence.
• Agriculture: understanding relationships among crop species informs breeding programs.

Subfields

• Botany: the study of plant diversity and evolution.
• Zoology: the study of animal diversity and evolution.
• Microbiology: the study of microbial diversity and evolution.