1. Classification

2. Why Classify? Classification makes it easier to answer questions about living things such as How many known species are there? What are the defining characteristics of each species? What are the relationships between these species?

3. Taxonomy The science of describing, classifying, and naming living things Levels of Classification Kingdom ( largest, most general) Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species ( only one kind of organism) King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti

5. Classification History Aristotle – (4 th century B.C./Greek) the first person to organize things scientifically. Linnaeus – (18 th century/Swedish) Carolus Linnaeus is the father of taxonomy. He grouped things according to their shared characteristics like shape and structure. Science is dynamic (changing). As we make new discoveries, our groupings of organisms sometimes change.

6. Binomial Nomenclature (two names) What is a puma vs. a mountain lion vs. a cougar? Names are in Latin or Greek so that all scientists use the same name Linnaeus simplified the naming process with two parts; genus and species. Genus is always capitalized, species is lower case You can abbreviate the genus, but not the species Genus and species are in italics or underlined Felis concolor

7. Scientific Names Felis domesticus Tyrannosaurus rex Canis familiaris Homo sapien Panthera onca house cat T. rex dog human jaguar

8. Dichotomous Key A guide to identifying organisms It is based on statements/questions that will be answered with one of two responses. These responses lead you to other statements until you reach the identity of the organism.

9. 1 A. Metal..................................go to 2 1 B. Paper.................................go to 5 2 A. Brown (copper)..................penny 2 B. Silver..................................go to 3 3 A. Smooth edge..................... nickel. 3 B. Ridges around the edge....go to 4 4 A. Torch on back....................dime 4 B. Eagle on back...................quarter 5 A. Number 1 in the corners....$1 bill 5 B. Number 2 in the corners....$2 bill

11. Important Terms Prokaryote – having no nucleus Eukaryote – having a nucleus Unicellular – made up of one single cell Multicellular – made up of more than one cell Autotroph – make their own food Heterotroph – get food from consuming something else