1. Classification

2. Classification
Taxonomy: branch of biology that groups organisms based on the presence of similar characteristics
Taxonomist: scientist who group and name organisms after studying differences in their physical characteristics

3. Benefits of Classification
Accurately and uniformly names organisms
Prevents misnomers
Jellyfish
Starfish
Uses same language to name all organisms
Latin or sometimes Greek
Sea”horse”??

4. History of Classification
Aristotle ( BC)
1st to divide and classify organisms
Based on where organism spends most of its life (air, water, etc)
Divided them into two groups
Plants: herbs, shrubs, trees
Animals: land, air, water

5. History of Classification
Based on Aristotle’s system, how would you classify the following?
Bats, birds, lizards, wolves, walrus, dolphins, goldfish, sea urchins, horse, koala, frogs, stingrays, wasp
Land Air Water

6. History of Classification
What are some problems with this form of classification??
Some organisms are grouped together even though they don’t have much in common
Some organisms do not fit easily into Aristotle’s system
Walrus???
Frog???

7. History of Classification
Carolus Linnaeus ( )
Based on physical similarities
between organisms
Problem
Organisms given misleading “common” names OR one species given more than one common name
Solution
Use latin to assign an unchanging global scientific name to identify a species
Binomial Nomenclature

8. Binomial Nomenclature
“Two Names”
1st name: the genus (uppercase)
2nd name: a descriptive name (lowercase)
Helps scientists researching the same organism in different countries/languages!
Common Name:
House Sparrow (US)
Gorrion (Spain)
Musch (Hollond)
Hussparf (Sweden)
Scientific Name:
Passer domesticus

9. Modern Taxonomy Groups organisms based on evolutionary relationships
Based on similarities in
External/Internal Structure
Breeding Behavior
Geographical Distribution
Chromosome comparisons
Biochemistry

10. Modern Taxonomy
Provides a way to study relationships among organisms –both living and extinct
Start with broad categories with general characteristics and then subdivide organisms by looking at characteristics specific to different organisms
The MORE similarities between 2 organisms = more closely related!!!

11. Organisms are Classified in a Hierarchy of Taxa
Taxon = group of organisms
Domain- Eukarya   Kingdom- Animalia      Phylum- Chordata         Subphylum- Vertebrata           Class- Mammalia               Order- Carnivora                   Family- Canidae                       Genus- Canis                          Species- Canis lupus                            Subspecies- Canis lupus familiaris

12. Taxonomy Mnemonic Device to remember taxon groups:
Dumb King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti
Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species