taxonomy
How we classify organisms based
upon structural similarities and
differences
Carolus Linnaeus
• The “Father of
Modern Taxonomy”
• Established methods
for classifying and
naming organisms
that are still used
• BINOMIAL
NOMENCLATURE
– Two name names
Five kingdoms system
• The most general
classification
– Monera – bacteria
– Protist
– Fungi
– Plants
– animals
Kingdom Monera
• Prokaryotic
– No membrane-bound
organelles
– No nuclear membrane
• Unicellular
• Some are
heterotrophic
• cyanobacteria are
autotrophic because
they perform
photosynthesis
Protists
• Eukaryotic
– Membrane-bound organelles
– Nuclear membrane
• Mainly unicellular
• Some are heterotrophic and some are
autotrophic
protozoa
• These do not have
cell walls
• Examples include
ameba and
paramecium
Algae
• These protists have
cell walls and
chloroplasts
• These protists are
autotrophic
• Some are multicellular like sea weed!
Blue algae
fungi
• Fungi are eukaryotic
• Fungi can be
unicellular
– Yeast and bread mold
• Fungi can be
multicellular
– mushrooms
• All fungi are
heterotrophic
• A fungus lives on its food source
• They absorb the nutrients they need from
the environment
• Digestive enzymes are secreted into their
food source for EXTRACELLULAR
digestion
• The end products of digestion (nutrients)
are absorbed
Plants
• All plants are
multicellular
• All plants are
eukaryotic
• All plants are
autotrophic
• Plant cell walls are
made of cellulose
bryophytes
• No true roots stems
or leaves
• No vascular tissue to
circulate food or water
• They are only a few
centimeters in height
• Must live in a moist
area
– mosses
Tracheophytes
• True roots, stems and
leaves
• They have vascular
tissue to circulate
food and water
• They can grow to
great heights
• They can live in many
different
environments
Animals
• All animals are
eukaryotic
• All animals are
multicellular
• All animals are
heterotrophic
Classification
Kingdom – most general
Phylum – related classes
Class – related orders
Order – related families
Family – related genus
Genus – related species
Species – most specific
Species name
• Based on a system of binomial
nomenclature
• The Latin version of the genus and
species of an organism
– Members of a species must be able to
successfully reproduce and have fertile
offspring
Human versus chimpanzee
• Human
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Hominid
Homo
Homo sapien
• Chimpanzee
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Pongid
Pan
Pan troglodyte