Classification and Taxonomy

Modern Classification: Taxonomy Taxonomy: a branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their different characteristics Aristotle : began simple classification by grouping organisms into two basic groups Plant Animal Linnaeus : further divided organisms using technology such as the microscope and evolutionary relationships http://europa.tcs.tufts.edu/teach21c/private/pbu/files/31/aristotl_20020610143002/index.htm During the golden age of Greece, the philosopher, Aristotle began the organized manner of naming living things.  We call the naming of living things Taxonomy.   He divided all living things into plants or animals. He further divided these two classifications into subgroups.  For example, he divided animals into land and water animals.  At this time science, religion, and philosophy had not yet separated into different disciplines.  Because Aristotle, the philosopher, invented the discipline called logic and because of his great influence on the development of western science, his methods weren't questioned for a long time.  However, it eventually became clear to scientists that Aristotle's method was inadequate.  There were too many creatures that didn't seem to fit in either category or had characteristics of both.  So, a better method was needed.Aristotle Born 384 BC, Died 322 BC       A Swedish scientist, Carolus Linnaeus, many years later developed a system that classified living things based upon body structures, size, shape, color, and methods of obtaining food.  The system was called binomial nomenclature.  It is made up of two Latin words.  The first word is the creatures genus and the second is its species name.  Genus is the classification of creatures that have similar characteristics, yet are obviously different.  The species name is the smallest most precise classification where looking at a group of creatures, except for size and some minor color differences, you can tell that they are the same kind of creature. Carolus LinnaeusBorn 1707, Died 1778

6 KINGDOMS Eubacteria Archaebacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia All of life can be divided into 6 kingdoms: Eubacteria Archaebacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Levels of Classification Taxa Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Karen Plays Chess On Frank’s Green Sofa

Binomial Nomenclature Scientist use LATIN because it is an unchanging language Everything referred to by two names Genus (capitalized) Species (lower case) Both names are underlined or italicized Ex. Canis lupus or Canis lupus (wolf) See page 459

Which two organims are most closely related? Taxon House Cat Mountain Lion Dog Human Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivoria Primates Family Felidae Canidae Hominidae Genus Felis Canis Homo Species domesticus concolor familiaris sapiens

Essential Questions 1. What technology allowed Linnaeus to divide organisms into more accurate groups? The microscope 2. What does bionomial nomenclature mean? Classification by 2 names 3. Human’s scientific name is Homo sapien. What is our genus? Homo