ClassificationClassification of of OrganismsOrganisms

Main Idea

Students should be able to:Students should be able to:* Understand why a classification system is important* Understand why a classification system is important* Understand that there are a variety of ways to classify* Understand that there are a variety of ways to classify organismsorganisms* Understand the origins of our modern classification system* Understand the origins of our modern classification system

Developed by:Developed by:Andrew LeechAndrew Leech

What is an Organism?What is an Organism?

Organism: any living thing. Organism: any living thing.

• This includes everything from single celled This includes everything from single celled bacteria, all the way to the redwood tree or bacteria, all the way to the redwood tree or Blue Whale.Blue Whale.

You will see 14 different organisms, You will see 14 different organisms, each of them labeled with a letter. In each of them labeled with a letter. In your groups, write down two main your groups, write down two main classification groups classification groups (color, body plan, behavior, habitat). (color, body plan, behavior, habitat). Then place the corresponding letters Then place the corresponding letters under the correct classification.under the correct classification.

The Classification Game!!The Classification Game!!

Get into PairsGet into Pairs

For ExampleFor Example

These organisms have beenThese organisms have beenclassified by their color.classified by their color.

RedRedGreenGreen

AREARE

YOUYOU

READY!READY!

I

B

H

L M

A D

F

C

N

G

E

K

J

One Possible SolutionOne Possible Solution

PlantsPlants AnimalsAnimals

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

????????

Did You Have Problems??Did You Have Problems??

There are several different ways to classify these There are several different ways to classify these Organisms (color, shape, size, number of legs). Organisms (color, shape, size, number of legs).

How many groups had one or two that did not fit How many groups had one or two that did not fit into either of your two classifications?into either of your two classifications?

What should you do when this happens?What should you do when this happens?

Development of Development of Classification?Classification?

Aristotle (350 B.C.) grouped organisms: Aristotle (350 B.C.) grouped organisms: 1.1. body partsbody parts2.2. life historieslife histories3.3. ActivitiesActivities4.4. character. character.

10 groups of animals:10 groups of animals:6 - “blooded”, 4 “bloodless”.6 - “blooded”, 4 “bloodless”.

Blooded:Blooded:Humans, birds and fish Humans, birds and fish

Bloodless:Bloodless:insects and mollusksinsects and mollusks

Development of Development of Classification?Classification?

Development of Development of Classification?Classification?

• As organisms were discovered, scientists hadAs organisms were discovered, scientists hadto add to Aristotle’s original groupings.to add to Aristotle’s original groupings.

• Increasingly confusing and difficult to useIncreasingly confusing and difficult to use

• Lack of universal systemLack of universal system

Modern ClassificationModern Classification

• Plants and Animals.Plants and Animals. • Discovered organisms that did not fit (Fungi)Discovered organisms that did not fit (Fungi)

Origins of ClassificationOrigins of Classification

Modern ClassificationModern Classification • Invention of the microscope – discoveredInvention of the microscope – discoveredorganisms showing characteristics of both plantsorganisms showing characteristics of both plantsand animals (Protists)and animals (Protists)

• Improvements of the microscope led to 2Improvements of the microscope led to 2bacterial kingdoms (eubacteria & archaebacteria)bacterial kingdoms (eubacteria & archaebacteria)

Origins of ClassificationOrigins of Classification

TAXONOMYTAXONOMY (Systematics) (Systematics)

– organisms grouped by shared organisms grouped by shared

characteristics characteristics DERIVED DERIVED CHARACTERISTICS. CHARACTERISTICS.

– Scientists were then able to find the Scientists were then able to find the common ancestry of the organisms.common ancestry of the organisms.

Different ways Different ways of groupingof grouping

PHENETIC SYSTEMPHENETIC SYSTEM– PHENOTYPIC similarities (physical)PHENOTYPIC similarities (physical)

(Dolphins have body plan similar to (Dolphins have body plan similar to sharks)sharks)

BEHAVIORALBEHAVIORAL

– Dolphins share habitat, feeding patterns, Dolphins share habitat, feeding patterns, movement with sharksmovement with sharks

Different ways Different ways of groupingof grouping

GENOTYPIC SYSTEMGENOTYPIC SYSTEM– Grouped according to similarities in Grouped according to similarities in

DNADNA

CladisticsCladistics

CLADISTIC SYSTEM. CLADISTIC SYSTEM. – Phylogeny – evolutionary history Phylogeny – evolutionary history

– Ex. So birds might be related to Ex. So birds might be related to reptiles, because scientists think that reptiles, because scientists think that birds evolved from early dinosaurs.birds evolved from early dinosaurs.

Scientific NamesScientific Names

BINOMIAL NOMENCLATUREBINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE– GENUS and SPECIES of the organism. GENUS and SPECIES of the organism.

– 11stst word - Genus, 2 word - Genus, 2ndnd word - Species. word - Species.

– A binomial - two wordsA binomial - two words

Who do I have to thank for Who do I have to thank for this?this?

Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus (1753)(1753)

Hierarchical system Hierarchical system – species was the smallest unit, and species was the smallest unit, and

that each species (or taxon) belonged that each species (or taxon) belonged to a higher category.to a higher category.

Carlous LinneusCarlous Linneus

Kingdom Kingdom PhylumPhylum Class Class Order Order FamilyFamilyGenusGenusSpeciesSpecies

What Kingdom are you in?What Kingdom are you in?

What phylum are you in? Why?What phylum are you in? Why?

The Human SpeciesThe Human Species

Kingdom:Kingdom:Phylum:Phylum:Class:Class:Order:Order:Family:Family:Genus:Genus:Species:Species:

Animalia (Animal in Latin)Animalia (Animal in Latin)Chordata (Spinal Cord)Chordata (Spinal Cord)

Mammalia (have mammary glands)Mammalia (have mammary glands)Primates (two mammary glands)Primates (two mammary glands)Hominoidea (bipedalism)Hominoidea (bipedalism)HomoHomoSapienSapien

When you refer to an organismWhen you refer to an organismscientifically, you always use the scientifically, you always use the genus and the specie names.genus and the specie names.Therefore, the human species wouldTherefore, the human species wouldbe referred to as:be referred to as:

Homo sapienHomo sapien

ConclusionConclusion

The classification system for organismsThe classification system for organismshave been around for a long time. It hashave been around for a long time. It hasendured several changes and is quiteendured several changes and is quitecomplex. Without it modern biology couldcomplex. Without it modern biology couldnot exist, much in the same way thatnot exist, much in the same way thata grocery store would go out of businessa grocery store would go out of businessif it did not have a classification system.if it did not have a classification system.