Vocabulary Review
Ch 17 –
Classification of
Organisms
The variety of
organisms considered
at all levels, from
populations to
ecosystems
Biodiversity
The science of
describing, naming,
and classifying
organisms
Taxonomy
Any particular group
within a taxonomic
system
Taxon
In a traditional
taxonomic system,
the highest taxonomic
category, which
contains a group of
similar phyla
Kingdom
In a modern taxonomic
system, the broadest
category; the category
that contains kingdoms
Domain
In a traditional
taxonomic system for
organisms other than
plants, the category
contained within a
kingdom and containing
classes
Phylum
In a traditional
taxonomic system for
plants, the category
contained within a
kingdom and containing
classes
Division
In a traditional
taxonomic system,
the category
contained within a
phylum or division and
containing orders
Class
In a traditional
taxonomic system, the
category contained
within a class and
containing families
Order
In a traditional
taxonomic system, the
category contained
within an order and
containing genera
Family
In a traditional
taxonomic system,
the category
contained within a
family and containing
species
Genus
A group of organisms that
are closely related and can
mate to produce fertile
offspring; also the level of
classification below genus
and above subspecies
Species
A system for giving
each organism a twoword scientific name
that consists of the
genus name followed
by the species name
Binomial
nomenclature
A taxonomic classification
below species that groups
organisms that live in different
geographical areas, differ
morphologically from other
populations of the species, but
can interbreed with other
populations of the species
Subspecies
The classification of living
organisms in terms of
their natural relationships;
it includes describing,
naming, and classifying the
organisms
Systematics
The analysis of
evolutionary, or
ancestral,
relationships between
taxa
Phylogenetics
A branching diagram
that models the
relationships by
ancestry between
different species or
other taxonomic groups
Phylogenetic
diagram
A phylogenetic
classification system
that uses shared
derived characters and
ancestry as the sole
criterion for grouping
taxa
Cladistics
A feature that is
shared by all
members of a
particular group of
organisms
Shared character
A feature that
evolved only within a
particular taxonomic
group
Derived
character
A taxonomic grouping
that includes only a
single ancestor and all
of its descendants
Clade
A diagram that is based
on patterns of shared,
derived traits and that
shows the evolutionary
relationships between
groups of organisms
Cladogram
In a modern taxonomic
system, a domain made up
of prokaryotes that
usually have a cell wall and
that usually reproduce by
cell division; this domain
aligns with the traditional
kingdom Eubacteria
Bacteria
In a modern taxonomic
system, a domain made up of
prokaryotes that can live in
extreme environments and
that are differentiated from
other prokaryotes by various
important chemical
differences; this domain
aligns with the traditional
kingdom Archaebacteria
Archaea
In a modern taxonomic
system, a domain made up
of all eukaryotes; aligns
with the traditional
kingdoms Protista, Fungi,
Plantae, and Animalia
Eukarya
In a traditional
taxonomic system, a
kingdom that contains
all prokaryotes
except Kingdom
Archaebacteria
Eubacteria
In a traditional taxonomic
system, a kingdom made up of
prokaryotes that can live in
extreme environments;
differentiated from other
prokaryotes by various
important chemical
differences
Archaebacteria
In a traditional taxonomic
system, a kingdom made
up of mostly one-celled
eukaryotic organisms that
are not readily classified
as either plants, animals,
or fungi
Protista
In a traditional taxonomic
system, a kingdom made up of
nongreen, eukaryotic
organisms that get food by
breaking down organic matter
and absorbing the nutrients,
reproduce by means of
spores, and have no means of
movement
Fungi
In a traditional taxonomic
system, a kingdom made up of
eukaryotic, multicellular
organisms that have cell walls
made mostly of cellulose, that
have pigments that absorb
light, and that supply energy
and oxygen to themselves and
to other life-forms through
photosynthesis
Plantae
In a traditional taxonomic
system, a kingdom made up of
complex, multicellular
organisms that lack cell walls,
are usually able to move
around, and possess
specialized sense organs that
help them quickly respond to
their environment
Animalia