Classification There are around 2 million species that have been described and scientists believe there are anywhere from 4 million to over 100 million

ClassificationClassification

There are around 2 million species that There are around 2 million species that have been described and scientists believe have been described and scientists believe there are there are anywhere from 4 million to over anywhere from 4 million to over 100 million100 million different kinds of life forms on different kinds of life forms on this planet. How do we figure this out? this planet. How do we figure this out?

Mathematical models!Mathematical models!

ClassificationClassification is…the process of grouping is…the process of grouping things together based upon their things together based upon their

similarities.similarities.

Scientists do this in order to make it easier Scientists do this in order to make it easier to study living things.to study living things.

TaxonomyTaxonomy is…the study of is…the study of howhow living living things are classified. Taxonomists are the things are classified. Taxonomists are the scientists that do this.scientists that do this.

How Did this all Start?How Did this all Start?

Dude #1Dude #1

AristotleAristotle was a Greek philosopher and was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived in the 300B.C.’s; he took a scientist who lived in the 300B.C.’s; he took a shot at classifying critters. He observed animals shot at classifying critters. He observed animals and grouped them into…swimming, walking, and and grouped them into…swimming, walking, and flying things. Nice try…but we don’t use these flying things. Nice try…but we don’t use these groups…they’re too general. groups…they’re too general.

More About AristotleMore About Aristotle…for inquiring …for inquiring mindsminds

Aristotle also grouped animals into: those Aristotle also grouped animals into: those with blood and those without blood. That’s with blood and those without blood. That’s sorta close to our sorta close to our vertebrate (backbone) vertebrate (backbone) and invertebrate (no backbone)and invertebrate (no backbone) thing. thing.

Even though we have made Even though we have made some changes, We still DO use some changes, We still DO use his basic approach.his basic approach.

Dude #2Dude #2 Carolus LinnaeusCarolus Linnaeus was a Swedish scientist was a Swedish scientist

(mid-1700’s) who followed up on Aristotle’s (mid-1700’s) who followed up on Aristotle’s work.work.

He developed the system of using two names, He developed the system of using two names, so that scientists could communicate regardless so that scientists could communicate regardless of the language they spoke. We call this:of the language they spoke. We call this:BINOMIALBINOMIAL NOMENCLATURENOMENCLATURE..

The first word is the genus and the second is The first word is the genus and the second is usually an adjective that describes the usually an adjective that describes the organism (or where its from or who organism (or where its from or who discovered it). More on this in a few slides.discovered it). More on this in a few slides.

Eight Levels of ClassificationEight Levels of Classification(and one way to remember them)(and one way to remember them)

Domain…DumbDomain…Dumb Kingdom…KingsKingdom…Kings

Phylum…PlayPhylum…Play Class…ChessClass…Chess

Order…OnOrder…On Family…FancyFamily…Fancy Genus…GlassGenus…Glass

Species…StoolsSpecies…Stools Kingdoms are the broadest category Kingdoms are the broadest category

and species the most…ummm…and species the most…ummm…specific.specific.

DomainsDomains

Domains were added to the taxonomic Domains were added to the taxonomic system to take evolutionary differences system to take evolutionary differences and differences in DNA.and differences in DNA.

This level is the broadest in scope.This level is the broadest in scope.There are three DOMAINS: Archaea, There are three DOMAINS: Archaea,

Bacteria, and Eukarya.Bacteria, and Eukarya.

The Six KingdomsThe Six KingdomsWe’ll look at each in more detail later.We’ll look at each in more detail later.

1.1. ArchaebacteriaArchaebacteria

2.2. Bacteria (formerly Eubacteria)Bacteria (formerly Eubacteria)

3.3. ProtistsProtists

4.4. FungiFungi

5.5. PlantsPlants

6.6. AnimalsAnimals

In this system of naming living things In this system of naming living things using two names, we use the using two names, we use the genusgenus and and speciesspecies names. names.

GenusGenus: a grouping that contains several : a grouping that contains several similar organisms.similar organisms.

SpeciesSpecies: an even smaller group within : an even smaller group within which organisms can mate and produce which organisms can mate and produce fertile offspring.fertile offspring.

Example: Example: Crocodylus porosusCrocodylus porosus (salt water (salt water crocodile), crocodile), CrocodylusCrocodylus niloticusniloticus (Nile crocodile) (Nile crocodile)…same genus; different species.…same genus; different species.

Notice that the genus name is upper case Notice that the genus name is upper case and the species name…lower case.and the species name…lower case.

Dichotomous KeysDichotomous KeysAKA: Taxonomic KeyAKA: Taxonomic Key

A bunch of paired statements that A bunch of paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of describe the physical characteristics of living things.living things.

You make observations; follow the key; You make observations; follow the key; and BINGO! Instant identification and BINGO! Instant identification

Turn to page 226 and figure out what Turn to page 226 and figure out what organisms are pictured by using the organisms are pictured by using the dichotomous (taxonomic) key.dichotomous (taxonomic) key.

Checkpoint Question #1!?!?!?Checkpoint Question #1!?!?!?

What were the three main groups of animals What were the three main groups of animals in Aristotle’s system of classification?in Aristotle’s system of classification?

A)A) Large animals, small animals, and Large animals, small animals, and medium-sized animalsmedium-sized animals

B)B) Mammals, fish, and reptilesMammals, fish, and reptiles

C)C) Those that fly, those that swim, and Those that fly, those that swim, and those that can walk, crawl, or runthose that can walk, crawl, or run

Checkpoint Question #2!?!?!?!?Checkpoint Question #2!?!?!?!?

In a scientific name, the genus name is In a scientific name, the genus name is similar to similar to

A)A) Your species name.Your species name.

B)B) Your family name.Your family name.

C)C) Your nickname.Your nickname.


What are the seven levels of classification What are the seven levels of classification from the broadest to the most specific?from the broadest to the most specific?

A)A) Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, speciesfamily, genus, species

B)B) Kingdom, phylum, order, class, family, Kingdom, phylum, order, class, family, genus, speciesgenus, species

C)C) Kingdom, phylum, family, order, genus, Kingdom, phylum, family, order, genus, species species


Who developed one of the earliest Who developed one of the earliest classification system for organisms?classification system for organisms?

A)A) AristotleAristotle

B)B) Linnaeus Linnaeus

C)C) DarwinDarwin


In the scientific name of a house cat, In the scientific name of a house cat, Felis Felis domesticus,domesticus, “felis” is the name of the “felis” is the name of the animal’sanimal’s

A)A) SpeciesSpecies

B)B) FamilyFamily

C)C) GenusGenus


A taxonomic key isA taxonomic key isA)A) a book with illustrations that highlights a book with illustrations that highlights

differences between similar-looking differences between similar-looking organisms. organisms.

B)B) a process for determining the a process for determining the evolutionary history of an organism. evolutionary history of an organism.

C)C) a series of paired statements that a series of paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of describe the physical characteristics of different organisms. different organisms.

Answers!!!Answers!!!

1-C1-C

2-B2-B

3-A3-A

4-A4-A

5-C5-C

6-C6-C

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Classification There are around 2 million species that have been described and scientists believe there are anywhere from 4 million to over 100 million