Skills 1-5
Skill 1: What is taxonomy?
Skill 1: What is taxonomy?
Skill 2: What is binomial nomenclature and who invented it?
Skill 2: What is binomial nomenclature and who invented it?
Taxonomy is the study of grouping organisms based on similarities.
Taxonomy is the study of grouping organisms based on similarities.
Carolus Linnaeus created the taxonomic system which is still in use today.
Carolus Linnaeus created the taxonomic system which is still in use today.
He created binomial nomenclature, a system of naming organisms using two names. (bi=two, nomen=name) When you use this system, you have written the scientific name of an organism. Humans are known as Homo sapiens. Wolves are Canis lupus.
He created binomial nomenclature, a system of naming organisms using two names. (bi=two, nomen=name) When you use this system, you have written the scientific name of an organism. Humans are known as Homo sapiens. Wolves are Canis lupus.
Binomial nomenclature consists of two Latin-like names. The first is the genus and it is capitalized. The second is the species and it is lowercase. Both words are italicized when typed or underlined when hand-written.
Binomial nomenclature consists of two Latin-like names. The first is the genus and it is capitalized. The second is the species and it is lowercase. Both words are italicized when typed or underlined when hand-written.
Two organisms are part of the same species if they can produce fertile offspring. For example two Canis Lupis, or wolves, can produce offspring (babies) that are fertile (capable of having babies of their own.)
Two organisms are part of the same species if they can produce fertile offspring. For example two Canis Lupis, or wolves, can produce offspring (babies) that are fertile (capable of having babies of their own.)
Do you know of two different species that can have babies together?
Do you know of two different species that can have babies together?
Did you know that their babies are often sterile (cannot have babies)?
Did you know that their babies are often sterile (cannot have babies)?
Horse x donkey = mule
Horse x donkey = mule
Tiger x lion = liger
Tiger x lion = liger
Selasphorus rufus
Selasphorus rufus
Canis rufus
Canis rufus
Always look at the genus and species names together when determining how closely related two organisms are. The species name is often just a description of a physical characteristic. For instance, 'rufus' just means red. That does not mean that the bird, Selasphorus rufus, and the wolf, Canis rufus, are closely related.
Always look at the genus and species names together when determining how closely related two organisms are. The species name is often just a description of a physical characteristic. For instance, 'rufus' just means red. That does not mean that the bird, Selasphorus rufus, and the wolf, Canis rufus, are closely related.
Skill 3: Know the taxa in order from domain through species.
Skill 3: Know the taxa in order from domain through species.
One level is called a 'taxon,' while multiple levels are called 'taxa.'
One level is called a 'taxon,' while multiple levels are called 'taxa.'
What do you notice when you compare the species in the figure to the genus?
What do you notice when you compare the species in the figure to the genus?
What about when you compare the genus to the family?
What about when you compare the genus to the family?
With your team, create a general rule about the organisms within a taxon, when compared to a higher taxon (one to the right.)
With your team, create a general rule about the organisms within a taxon, when compared to a higher taxon (one to the right.)
Create a mnemonic device to remember the taxa in order from largest to smallest or memorize the one below.
Create a mnemonic device to remember the taxa in order from largest to smallest or memorize the one below.
This is a mnemonic my former students taught me:
This is a mnemonic my former students taught me:
Dumb Kids Playing Catch On Freeways Get Squished
Dumb Kids Playing Catch On Freeways Get Squished
Dumb = Domain
Dumb = Domain
Kids = Kingdom
Kids = Kingdom
Playing = Phylum
Playing = Phylum
Catch = Class
Catch = Class
On = Order
On = Order
Freeways = Family
Freeways = Family
Get = Genus
Get = Genus
Squished = Species
Squished = Species
Skill 4: What technology is presently the most accurate way to classify organisms?
Skill 4: What technology is presently the most accurate way to classify organisms?
Skill 5: Is classification static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing), in response to new discoveries?
Skill 5: Is classification static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing), in response to new discoveries?
Originally, morphological characteristics were used to classify organisms into groups. 'Morph' means 'form,' so what are morphological characteristics?
Originally, morphological characteristics were used to classify organisms into groups. 'Morph' means 'form,' so what are morphological characteristics?
Using morphological characteristics, or physical similarities, a dolphin and a shark would be grouped together. What are some morphological similarities between the shark and the dolphin?
Using morphological characteristics, or physical similarities, a dolphin and a shark would be grouped together. What are some morphological similarities between the shark and the dolphin?
What is the problem with grouping sharks and dolphins together?
What is the problem with grouping sharks and dolphins together?
Do we still group sharks and dolphins together? Why or why not?
Do we still group sharks and dolphins together? Why or why not?
What does this tell you about the science of taxonomy?
What does this tell you about the science of taxonomy?
Later, fossils were used to look for similarities between ancient organisms, adding new information to what was already known. This caused scientists to change the way they classified some organisms.
Later, fossils were used to look for similarities between ancient organisms, adding new information to what was already known. This caused scientists to change the way they classified some organisms.
Today, DNA sequencing, or 'reading' the genes in an organism, allows scientists to very accurately classify organisms according to common ancestors. Looking at DNA has shed a lot of light on relationships between organisms, causing many changes to the way organisms are presently classified. This is presently our clearest way to classify organisms.
Today, DNA sequencing, or 'reading' the genes in an organism, allows scientists to very accurately classify organisms according to common ancestors. Looking at DNA has shed a lot of light on relationships between organisms, causing many changes to the way organisms are presently classified. This is presently our clearest way to classify organisms.
Like all science, taxonomy is ever-changing. As new species are discovered and new relationships are established, taxonomists must change the taxonomic system and re-classify organisms according to the new information.
Like all science, taxonomy is ever-changing. As new species are discovered and new relationships are established, taxonomists must change the taxonomic system and re-classify organisms according to the new information.
Select one correct answer, then explain why each other answer is incorrect.
Select one correct answer, then explain why each other answer is incorrect.
An important feature of modern classification systems is that they --
An important feature of modern classification systems is that they --
a. can incorporate new scientific discoveries
a. can incorporate new scientific discoveries
b. can predict the discovery of new species
b. can predict the discovery of new species
c. apply only to organisms that are alive today
c. apply only to organisms that are alive today
d. group organisms that live in the same habitat
d. group organisms that live in the same habitat