1. Grouping organisms based on similarities
Classification
Grouping organisms based on similarities

2. Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on similar characteristics.

3. Early Taxonomy Aristotle- (384-322 BC)
Grouped plants by size and animals by where they live.
Not very effective
Animals
Plants
Air –fly, bird, bat
Herbs-sage, tea, pepper
Water-seal, fish, frog
Shrubs- grass, rose bush
Land- dog, lizard, cat
Trees- oak, pine, maple

4. Linnaeus’s System
-Linnaeus ( ) – grouped organisms based on structural similarities.
Ex. Mammals have fur and reptiles have scales
-this system lead to more logical grouping.

5. Taxonomic Rankings -From larger groups to smaller groups. Linnaeus:
Kingdom King**
Phylum Phillip
Class Came
Order Over
Family For
Genius Good
Species Spaghetti
**Now includes ‘Domain’

7. Binomial Nomenclature
-used to name organisms
-first word in name is the organism’s genus
-second word in name is the organism’s species, describes a characteristic of an organism.
-should be italicized in print and underlined when hand written.
Ex. Homo sapiens = scientific name for humans
Homo= genus
sapiens= Latin word for “wise”, because humans are intelligent

8. Phylogeny
Phylogeny- traces the evolutionary history of organisms based on shared characteristics.

9. Phylogenetic Tree
A branching diagram that hypothetically shows the evolutionary history of organisms.

10. Cladogram
-cladogram- a diagram that shows the evolutionary history of a species
-classifies species based on derived traits

11. Dichotomous Keys
-dichotomous keys characterize organisms by continuously splitting organisms into two groups based on a characteristic until individual species are isolated. Generally a way of identifiying unknown organisms.

12. 1.Has feathers yes go to 2
no go to 3
2. Swims yes go to 4
no go to 5
3. Has Legs yes go to 6
no go to 7
4. Duck
5. Hen
6. Lizard
7. Snake