Chapter 17
Classification of Organisms
Taxonomy
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Taxonomy – the science of grouping
organisms according to presumed natural
relationships
History of Classification
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Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first
person to classify nature.
Aristotle classified organisms into plant or
animal.
Plants were classified by their stem difference
into grasses, bushes or trees.
Animals were classified by air, land or water.
Linnaeus
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Carolus Linnaeus – (1707-1778) Swedish
naturalist father of binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature – 2 name system that
became the modern scientific method of
naming organisms.
First name Genus, Second name species – first
name Capitalized, second name lower case.
Genus, species
Examples: Canus lupus, Homo sapiens
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Linnaeus used Latin
Common language of educated people
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/galleries/darwin-centre/live/qt/linnaeus-hi.html
Levels of Classification
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Structurally similar – species
Similar species – genus
Similar genera – family
Similar families – order
Similar orders – class
Similar class - phylum (animal like) or division –
(plant like)
Similar phylum – kingdom
Similar kingdoms - domain
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Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order,
Family, Genus, Species
Daring King Paul called out for good soup
These are the 8 major levels of classification –
each group or level becomes smaller and
smaller or more and more select.
Additional levels
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Subspecies – morphologically different,
geographically separated
Strain – biochemically dissimilar
Variety – morphologically different, not
geographically separated
How to Classify
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Morphology
Biological Species Concept – BSC
Biochemistry
Phylogeny – Phylogenic tree -344-345
Embryology
Chromosomes
Phylogenetic Diagram of Major
Groups of Organisms
Six Kingdoms
Biosystemics
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When analyzing the diversity of organisms and
their natural relationships
Considering all fossil, biochemical,
morphological, etc similarities when
classifying organisms.
Modern Classification System
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Six kingdoms – based on cell structure, tissue
structure, nutritional requirements, and
developmental patterns
Kingdom and Domain
Characteristics
Eubacteria
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All true bacteria, single celled prokaryotic
organisms. Unicellular, heterotrophic and
autotrophic.
Archaebacteria
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Ancient bacteria -single celled prokaryotic
organisms. Unicellular, heterotrophic and
autotrophic
Protista
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Mostly single celled eukaryotic organisms.
Heterotrophic and autotrophic
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/moviegallery/pond
scum/protozoa/paramecium/28k/paramecium0
8.html
Fungi
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Unicellular and multicellular eukaryotic
organisms. Heterotrophic.
Plantae
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Multicellular Eukaryotic organisms.
Autotrophic.
http://www.clipstr.com/videos/RealFlowerBlooming/
Animalia
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Multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
Heterotrophic.
Dichotomous Key
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Identification key that uses two or more
descriptive choices to help name and identify
an organism
Example:
The organism is green go to A
 The organism is not green go to B
A the organism is a green algae
B the organism is not a green algae
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Dichotomous Key Vocabulary
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Radial Symmetry
Bilateral Symmetry
Radiating
Spines
Elongated
External covering soft
External covering hard
Bristles
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Antennae
Appendages
Feelerlike
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Branched
References
Modern Biology
 Modern Biology Resources: Ch17/60309.html
 Campbell’s Biology
 Websites:
http://www.clipstr.com/videos/RealFlowerBlooming/
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/moviegallery/pondscum/pro
tozoa/paramecium/28k/paramecium08.html
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Chapter 17
Multiple Choice
1. Which information is given in a species name?
A. genus and order
B. division and genus
C. genus and species identifier
D. species identifier and phylum
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
1. Which information is given in a species name?
A. genus and order
B. division and genus
C. genus and species identifier
D. species identifier and phylum
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
2. To which level of classification does a group
of closely related species of organisms belong?
F. class
G. order
H. genus
J. kingdom
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
2. To which level of classification does a group
of closely related species of organisms belong?
F. class
G. order
H. genus
J. kingdom
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
3. Eukaryotic organisms that have a nucleus and
organelles, have a cell wall made of chitin, and
secrete digestive enzymes belong to which
kingdom?
A. Fungi
B. Plantae
C. Protista
D. Animalia
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
3. Eukaryotic organisms that have a nucleus and
organelles, have a cell wall made of chitin, and
secrete digestive enzymes belong to which
kingdom?
A. Fungi
B. Plantae
C. Protista
D. Animalia
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
Complete the following analogy:
4. class : order :: kingdom :
A. genus
B. domain
C. species
D. phylum
Chapter 17
Standardized Test Prep
Multiple Choice, continued
Complete the following analogy:
4. class : order :: kingdom :
A. genus
B. domain
C. species
D. phylum
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
Use the diagram below to answer question
5. The diagram represents the eight
levels of classification.
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
5. Which level of classification represents a
species?
F. A
G. C
H. D
J. G
Chapter 17
Multiple Choice, continued
5. Which level of classification represents a
species?
F. A
G. C
H. D
J. G