Scribd
Upload
28 views

Classification Powerpoint

This document discusses the classification of living things. It explains that classification is the process of organizing things into groups based on similar characteristics. It then discusses binomial nomenclature, the scientific naming system developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s using Latin or Greek words for the genus and species of each organism. Modern taxonomy uses evidence from embryology, DNA, biochemistry, physiology, evolution and behavior to classify organisms into taxonomic groups such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. Dichotomous keys can then be used to identify organisms based on paired descriptive statements about their physical characteristics.

Uploaded by

Jaime
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
28 views

Classification Powerpoint

This document discusses the classification of living things. It explains that classification is the process of organizing things into groups based on similar characteristics. It then discusses binomial nomenclature, the scientific naming system developed by Carolus Linnaeus in the 1700s using Latin or Greek words for the genus and species of each organism. Modern taxonomy uses evidence from embryology, DNA, biochemistry, physiology, evolution and behavior to classify organisms into taxonomic groups such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. Dichotomous keys can then be used to identify organisms based on paired descriptive statements about their physical characteristics.

Uploaded by

Jaime
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

Classification of Living Things

Why do we classify things?

Supermarket aisles
Libraries
Classes
Teams/sports
Members of a family
Roads
Cities
Money

What is classification?

Classification: putting things into orderly


groups based on similar characteristics

Taxonomy: the science of describing, naming,


and classifying organisms

Binomial Nomenclature

Developed by Carolus
Linnaeus

Swedish Biologist 1700s

Two-name system

Genus and species named


using Latin or Greek words

Why Latin and Greek?


Latin

and Greek were the sensible choices,


because all educated people learned Latin and
Greek at school.
Scientific

books were often written in Latin so


that all educated people could understand
them.

Rules used to write scientific names

Homo sapiens

An organisms genus is always written first;


the organisms species is always written
second

The genus is Capitalized; the species is


written in lowercase

Scientific names of organisms are always


italicized or underlined

Modern Taxonomy
The Evidence used to classify into taxon
groups

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Embryology
Chromosomes / DNA
Biochemistry
Physiology
Evolution
Behavior

Review:
Kingdom

Family

Phylum

Genus

Class

Species

Order

Subspecies

Some organisms cant be divided into subspecies, only species.


Sometimes, the Domain is included ABOVE Kingdom.

Helpful way to remember the 8


levels

We use:
King Phillip Came Over From Gorgeous, Sunny
Spain!

Dumb kids playing catch on freeways get


squashed!

(If youre doing domains)

Using the Classification System


Field guides help identify organisms.
-they highlight differences between similar
organisms (like trees)
Taxonomic Key (Dichotomous Key)
-paired statements that describe the physical
characteristics of different organisms

Taxonomic Key

1a Fruits occur singly ................................................. Go to 3


1b Fruits occur in clusters of two or more ................ Go to 2
2a Fruits are round ................................................... Grapes
2b Fruits are elongate ............................................... Bananas
3a Thick skin that separates easily from flesh .........Oranges
3b Thin skin that adheres to flesh .............................. Go to 4
4a More than one seed per fruit ............................ Apples
4b One seed per fruit ............................................ Go to 5
5a Skin covered with fuzz.................... Peaches
5b Skin smooth, without fuzz........................... Plums

What steps would you use to identify an


apple?

You might also like