1. Classification

2. Taxonomy The practice of naming & classifying organisms
Used to manage large amounts of information
Similar to library systems used to organize books
Common names can be used for many different organisms
Biologists use groups, called taxons, to avoid confusion

3. Binomial Nomenclature
Two-word naming system developed by Carl Linnaeus in the 1750s
First word is the genus the organism belongs to; always capitalized
Second word is a descriptive word specific to the species; always lowercased
Known as the scientific name; always written in italics
Example: Panthera leo—lion or African lion

4. Levels of Linnaean System
8 basic levels:
Domain—used to recognize the difference in cell types among living things; 3 domains (humans are in Domain Eukarya)
Kingdom—smaller groups within domains (plants, animals, fungi, etc.); 6 kingdoms (humans are in Kingdom Animalia)
Phylum—smaller groups within kingdoms; many phyla can be in each kingdom (humans are in Phylum Chordata)
Class—smaller groups within a phylum (humans are in Class Mammalia)

5. Levels of Linnaean System, cont.
Order—smaller groups within classes (humans are in Order Primates)
Family—smaller groups within orders (humans are in Family Hominidae)
Genus—smaller groups of closely related species within families (humans are in Genus Homo)
Species—unique groups of organisms joined by heredity and the ability to interbreed within genuses (humans are Homo sapiens)