Taxonomy and Classification Quiz

Study Notes

Taxonomy and Classification

Taxonomy is the science of classification, organizing organisms based on shared characteristics.
The roots of taxonomy can be traced back to as early as 3000 BC.

Classification System

Carl Linnaeus developed a two-part classification system using Latin to name organisms based on their characteristics.

Binomial Nomenclature

In binomial nomenclature, the genus acts as the noun and is capitalized; it is always underlined or italicized.
The species descriptor is the adjective, written in lowercase and also underlined or italicized.

Rules of Binomial Nomenclature

Scientific names consist of two parts, with the genus capitalized and the specific epithet not capitalized.
Names are either italicized or underlined to denote their scientific nature.

Organism Classification

Classification today relies on identifying similarities among organisms and grouping them accordingly.
Established taxonomic classes are routinely utilized for organization.

Taxonomic Ranks

The hierarchy of taxonomy consists of: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Determining Relationships Among Organisms

Relationships are determined by comparing appearance, embryonic development, fossils, molecular DNA sequences, and proteins.
A noteworthy example is the genetic relationship between horseshoe crabs and spiders.

Cladograms

A cladogram is a branching diagram illustrating the cladistic relationships among various species.

Cladistics

Cladistics classifies organisms based on the proportion of measurable characteristics they share with a common ancestor.
A greater number of shared characteristics indicates a more recent common ancestor.

Six Kingdoms of Life

Archaebacteria: Example - Pyrococcus furious.
Eubacteria: Example - Proteobacteria.
Protista: Example - Zooplankton.
Fungi: Example - Mushrooms.
Plantae: Example - Roses.
Animalia: Examples - Squirrels, Polar bears.

Carl Woese and Domains

Carl Woese proposed the three domains of life for bacteria:
- Bacteria: Most common prokaryotes (e.g., E. coli).
- Archaea: Prokaryotes that thrive in extreme conditions (e.g., Pyrococcus furious).
- Eukarya: Eukaryotic organisms, including protists, animals, plants, and fungi. Woese's molecular research revealed that Archaea are distinctly unrelated to other groups.

Description

Test your knowledge on the science of taxonomy, including its history and the classification systems developed by key scientists. This quiz covers fundamental concepts and notable figures in the field of classification. Challenge yourself to identify key terms and definitions related to taxonomy.