Ch 23

Objectives

1. Describe taxonomic hierarchy, the three domain system and the six-kingdom classification system.

   1. What are the differences between traditional classification; systematics and phylogenies; cladistics and cladograms.

   2. Explain the general evolution of the two prokaryotic kingdoms (archaebacteria and bacteria) as well as the four eukaryotic kingdoms (protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia).

   3. Compare the biological species concept (BSC) with the newer phylogenetic species concept (PSC).

   4. Describe the endosymbiotic theory and origin of eukaryotic mitochondria and chloroplast organelles.

   5. What is the importance of compartmentalization, multicellularity and sexuality in the scheme of eukaryotic specialization.

   6. Explain the general characteristics of viruses and show why they are not classified into any of the established domains and/or kingdoms.

   7. Explain how the present day hierarchical scheme is subjective and subject to changes with ongoing evidence.

Spiritual Concept

Genesis 30: 29-43

Jacob replied, “You know how hard I’ve worked for you, and how your flocks and herds have grown under my care. 30 You had little indeed before I came, but your wealth has increased enormously. The Lord has blessed you through everything I’ve done. But now, what about me? When can I start providing for my own family?”

“What wages do you want?” Laban asked again.

Jacob replied, “Don’t give me anything. Just do this one thing, and I’ll continue to tend and watch over your flocks. Let me inspect your flocks today and remove all the sheep and goats that are speckled or spotted, along with all the black sheep. Give these to me as my wages. In the future, when you check on the animals you have given me as my wages, you’ll see that I have been honest. If you find in my flock any goats without speckles or spots, or any sheep that are not black, you will know that I have stolen them from you.”

“All right,” Laban replied. “It will be as you say.” But that very day Laban went out and removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, all the female goats that were speckled and spotted or had white patches, and all the black sheep. He placed them in the care of his own sons, who took them a three-days’ journey from where Jacob was. Meanwhile, Jacob stayed and cared for the rest of Laban’s flock.

Then Jacob took some fresh branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees and peeled off strips of bark, making white streaks on them. Then he placed these peeled branches in the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink, for that was where they mated. And when they mated in front of the white-streaked branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked, speckled, and spotted. Jacob separated those lambs from Laban’s flock. And at mating time he turned the flock to face Laban’s animals that were streaked or black. This is how he built his own flock instead of increasing Laban’s.

Whenever the stronger females were ready to mate, Jacob would place the peeled branches in the watering troughs in front of them. Then they would mate in front of the branches. But he didn’t do this with the weaker ones, so the weaker lambs belonged to Laban, and the stronger ones were Jacob’s. As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

• 1. Explain what was going on here, based on your knowledge of dominant and recessive genes.

  2. What role did God play in this story? In other words, were His actions based on His established principles or did He interfere with the gene pool and goat/sheep reproduction?