Taxonomy

The science of classification

Aristotle: Divided organisms into two groups.

Plants: classified them on the basis of structure and size.

Animals: subdivided them on the basis of where they live.

The Polynomial System
A series of additional descriptive terms added to the genus name.
Apis pubescens, thorace subgriseo, abdomine fusco, pedibus posticis glabris utrinque margine ciliatis (European honeybee)
Carolus Linnaeus: Swedish botanist who developed a classification system based on structural features.

Seven taxa

Kingdom: broadest category
phylum
class
order
family
genus
species: most specific; one type of organism
Binomial Nomenclature: two part naming system. Latin.
Genus species
Genus: a noun; always capitalized. May be abbreviated by using only the first letter.

species: an adjective; never capitalized.

Determining Relationships
Structure
Biochemistry/ molecular
Development
Phylogeny- evolutionary history
Human Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primata
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: Homo sapiens
 
Red Maple Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Anthophyta
Class: Dicotyledones
Order: Sapindales
Family: Aceraceae
Genus: Acer
Species: Acer rubrum
Monera
prokaryotic; unicellular; autotrophic or heterotrophic; most reproduce asexually; live in all habitats; example: bacteria
Protista
eukaryotic; unicellular; protozoans: animal-like; heterotrophic; algae: plant-like; autotrophic; reproduce sexually or asexually; live in moist habitats; example: amoeba, euglena, diatoms
Fungi
eukaryotic; mostly multicellular; saprophytic: obtain nutrients through absorption; reproduce sexually and asexually; most live in terrestrial habitats; example: mushrooms; puffballs; yeast
Plantae
eukaryotic; multicellular; autotrophic; most live in terrestrial habitats; reproduce sexually and asexually; example: mosses; ferns; conifers; flowering plants
Animalia
eukaryotic; multicellular; heterotrophic; live in terrestrial and aquatic habitats; most reproduce sexually; example: sponges, worms, starfish, frogs, snakes, birds, dogs
 
Six Kingdoms
Eubacteria: unicellular prokaryotes; mainly heterotrophs.
Cyanobacteria, chemoautotrophs, enterobacteria, pseudomonads, apirochaetes, actinomycetes, rickettsias
Archaebacteria: prokaryotes suited to extreme environments.
Methanogens, thermoacidophiles, halophiles
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
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