Classification and the History of Life  WebQuest  Study Guide

Domains

Go to http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Life/classification_intro.html and answer the following questions.

1.       What is a domain?

2.      What are the three domains of life?

Classification

Go to http://anthro.palomar.edu/animal/animal_1.htm and follow the directions through the tutorial to answer the questions.

1.       What is the classification system called?

2.      What is taxonomy?

3.      What kind of technology has us revising our ideas on how living things are related?

4.      Why would we call Linnaeus’ system of naming binomial nomenclature?

5.      What does modern day classification reflect?

Click next topic.

1.       How do we classify organisms into different categories?

2.      If they have found similar structures what decision must they make?

3.      What is a homologous structure? Draw a diagram to show how the animals would be related.

4.      How do we use DNA to classify organisms today?

5.      What is the cladistics approach to classification?

Click next topic.

1.       What is a kingdom?

2.      What are the SIX  kindgoms?  Describe the characteristics of each and give an example.

3.      Monera, an antiquated term ,  is  split into two different kingdoms in recent classification schemes.  What are they what is the difference between them?

4.      What is a phylum?

5.      Give two examples of phyla in the animal kingdom.  What kinds of characteristics do they have?

6.      We are part of the chordata phyla.  What are some of the characteristics that chordates have?

7.      What are some other chordates?

Click on next topic.

1.       What is a class?

2.      What are the 7 different classes of vertebrates?  Describe each class and give examples of each.

3.      Another difference between the classes is how they maintain an internal temperature.  What is the difference between an endotherm and ectotherm?  What are some advantages and disadvantages to both of these?

Go to http://anthro.palomar.edu/primate/prim_1.htm and answer the following questions.

1.       What is an order?

2.      What order do humans belong to? 

3.      What are some other examples of the primate order?

4.      What are some general characteristics of primates?

5.      How have our olfactory parts of our brain, genes, and nose changed over time?

6.      What grew as our noses and sense of smell shrank?

Click next topic and then click on the chart.

1.       What superfamily do we fit into?

2.      What family are we in?

3.      What other primates are found in this family?

4.      What are the three subfamilies found in hominidae?  What are some examples of each?

5.      What is the complete classification for modern humans; Kingdom, Phylum, etc.?

This video is part of Carl Sagan's Cosmos series and book.  There are some parts which describe the origin of atoms and the origin of life on Earth.   It is an extension activity, that is not required.

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Use your Textbook or other resources to answer the following:

1. What was the form of the earliest cells on Earth?

2. What type of atmosphere was needed in the early Earth?

3. Two insects in the same class must be grouped in the same____?

4. Dinosaurs became extinct due to ____?

5. If oxygen was missing from the Earth's early atmosphere, how did the modern atmosphere become 21% oxygen?

6. What is Pangaea?

7. Explain extinction .

8. What would be the "Primordial Goo"  or "Primordial Soup"?  What would it look like?  Get a picture...

9 .Draw  or create a chart that shows the different levels of classification present in a Pennsylvania ecosystem. Label kigdoms and other levels or classification that are helpful , For example a crayfish is an Animal and Arthropod:

 Kingfisher, Brook Trout, Redear Sunfish, Stonefly, Euglena, Osprey, Raccoon, Lichen, Moss, Black Walnut, Eastern Sycamore, Caddis Fly, Tick, Mushroom.