Taxonomy

Taxonomy:: Science of classifying living things based on Science of classifying living things based on

similarities.similarities.

Aristotle

• Over 2,000 years agoOver 2,000 years ago• Developed the first system of classificationDeveloped the first system of classification

All Living ThingsAll Living Things

PlantsPlants AnimalsAnimals

HerbsHerbs ShrubsShrubs TreesTrees LandLand AirAir WaterWater

Using Common LanguageUsing Common Language• Using Common Names creates many problems

with taxonomy• There are language and culture barriers• Fish ? Oak ? Difference ?

Crayfish

Silverfish

Shellfish

Starfish

Jellyfish

Red Oak

White Oak

Chestnut Oak

Cougar

Mountain Lion

Panther

Puma

Carolus (Carl) LinneausCarolus (Carl) Linneaus

• ““Father of Taxonomy”Father of Taxonomy”

• IntroducedIntroduced Binomial NomenclatureBinomial Nomenclature

The process by which all living things are given a The process by which all living things are given a two word scientific name.two word scientific name.

• Based in Latin & Greek languagesBased in Latin & Greek languages

Binomial NomenclatureBinomial NomenclatureScientific NamesScientific Names

• First Name = Genus Second Name = Species (Must be capitalized) (Must be lowercase)

Both must be italics or underlined !

Examples:

Felis domesticus = House catHomo sapien = HumansFelis leo = African LionDrosophilia melanogaster = fruit flyFelis concolor = Mountain LionCanis lupus = Gray wolf

Scientific NamesScientific Names

• All scientific names are chosen to describe an organisms features, its geography, or some other trivia (person who named it).

• Trifolium = 3 leaves agraium = fields

• Linnaea = Linneaus borealis = northern

• Quercus = oak alba = white

8 Categories of 8 Categories of ClassificationClassification

• DomainDomain• KingdomKingdom (King)(King)

• PhylumPhylum (Philip)(Philip)

• ClassClass (Came)(Came)

• OrderOrder (Over)(Over)

• FamilyFamily (For)(For)

• GenusGenus (Good)(Good)

• SpeciesSpecies (Spaghetti)(Spaghetti)

Remember by Mnemonics !

Sub-GroupingsSub-Groupings• SubspeciesSubspecies (ssp)(ssp) – same species, but notable

morphological differences due to geographic isolation. (common in animal species)

Subspecies of the rat snake Elaphe obsoleta, which interbreed where their ranges meet.

• Varieties (var.)Varieties (var.) – same species but notable morphological differences not due to isolation. (common in plants, breeds of animals, even races of people)

• Strains Strains – – refer to biochemically dissimilar refer to biochemically dissimilar microorgamisms ( microorgamisms (bacteria, virusesbacteria, viruses))

Typical Staph Bacteria

MRSA Bacteria

Criteria/Evidence for Classification

• Comparing anatomical structures in order to determine similarities between organisms

• Homologous Structures: similar parts between organisms (related)

• Analogous Structures: different anatomical parts between two organisms (un-related)

1. Morphology1. Morphology

Homologous vs. Analogous

2. Embryology

• Comparing the early development of organisms in order to group similar organisms.

3. Genetics

• Comparing DNA sequences to determine similarities.

Humans and Chimps share 99.6% of Humans and Chimps share 99.6% of the same exact DNA !the same exact DNA !

4. Phylogeny

• Family tree that shows evolutionary relationships.

• Base of tree = common ancestor of all the living things in the tree

• Branching = change of organism into a new species

PhylogenyPhylogeny

• Tips of Branches = Current day species

• The closer the branches, the more similar

• The farther the branches, the more different

5. Biosystematics

• The study of reproductive capabilities in organisms (can two species reproduce with one another?)

bi·o·sys·tem·at·ics  The statistical analysis of data obtained from genetic, biochemical, and other studies to assess the taxonomic relationships of organisms or populations, especially within an evolutionary framework.

Animalia

Plantae

Plantae

Protista

Animalia

Animalia

Protista

Fungi

Plantae

Animalia Animalia

Protista

Monera

Fungi

Plantae

Protista

Eubacteria

Archaebacteria

Fungi

Plantae

Kingdom Cell Type # Cells Nutrition

Archaebacteria Prokaryotic Unicellular Autotrophic & (Primitive Bacteria) Heterotrophic

Eubacteria Prokaryotic Unicellular Autotrophic & (Normal Bacteria) Heterotrophic

Protista Eukaryotic Mostly Autotrophic & (Amoeba, Paramecium, algae) Unicellular Heterotrophic

Fungi Eukaryotic Mostly Heterotrophic (Mushrooms, mold, yeast) Multicellular

Plantae Eukaryotic Multicellular Autotrophic

Animal Eukaryotic Multicellular Heterotrophic