BSCS
Unit 4, Chapter 18
Diversity and Variation
1. Define biodiversity. Define taxonomy. How are they
related?
2. What is the term given to basic grouping of organisms
that are capable of breeding or mating with one another
AND producing fertile offspring?
3. All human beings belong to the same species, Homo
sapiens. But, unless we are identical twins, none of us
looks like any one else. This is polymorphism. Give
other examples of polymorphism.
4. What are the photos below example of?
5. Why are polar bears and grizzly bears different
species?
6. Read Focus on. Explain the properties of a mule.
How was the general rule regarding the definition of a
species “violated” by Krause?
7. Why is taxonomy important? What is its main
purpose?
8. Differentiate between homologous structures and
analogous structures and give example of each.
9. What are the most reliable characteristics in
classifying organisms?
10. Read Focus on p. 467. Study the nucleotide
sequences of part of a gene in all apes and monkeys
compared to humans. What do you learn?
11. What is the significance of this in terms of
relationships on the tree of life?
12. Below are three different phylogenetic trees (trees
of life).
Panda Bear
What are the similarities? Their differences? Where do
we as humans appear? Compared to what?
13. From most inclusive to least inclusive, list the 8
taxa.
14. Now classify yourself. Learn it
15. What do you notice about all the root endings of the
taxon family?
16. What is the difference between a common name and
a scientific name? What language is the scientific name
always registered in?
17. What does binomial nomenclature mean?
18. What is the common name of Erithacus rubcula?
19. What is the scientific name of the coyote? The dog?
What similarities do you notice?
20. What is the difference between naming plants and
fungi compared to naming all other organisms at the
level of the third taxon?
21. What is different about how the scientific name is
written? How else can the scientific name (also called
the specific epithet) be named?
22. What is the importance of giving scientific names
anyway? (HINT: Look at figure 18.14)
23. What are three ways in which species are classified?
Differentiate among them and give examples of each.
24. In the diagrams below, label each according to your
understanding of your answer to #23.
A
B
Go to
http://www.conservenature.org/asian_elephant/two_sp
ecies.htm
to read more.
C
25. Read the Biological Challenge on p. 473. Then
observe the two pictures below. Why would some
scientists place these two animals in the same family?
giant panda
red panda
26. How did scientists compromise?
27. Your book does not address the fact that there are
now 3 domains, as illustrated on the next page:
In the domain Archaea exist only the extremophiles: the
halophiles, thermophiles, acidophiles, barophiles,
methanogens, etc. Go to
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0212089/home.htm
and identify all the different “-philes” and determine
their preferred habitat.
What does the suffix –phile mean?
28. Here’s where it gets confusing, folks. Some
taxonomists recognize 5, 6 or even 7 kingdoms. Aristotle
(about 800 BC) recognized only 2 – plant and animal. By
the 1950’s, Whittaker recognized 5 and it remained this
way for nearly 50 years. As more and more organisms
became know by their differences from each other,
rather than just their similarities, the kingdom system
expanded. On the following page is a representative of
the 6-kingdom system we will study:
To which domain do each of the 6 kingdoms belong?
29. Now, look at the kingdoms Eubacteria amd
Archaebacteria. They were once together in the
Kingdom Monera from the 5 kingdom system. It is
important that you learn both ways of thinking, because
your EOCT will, most likely, contain references to one or
the other.
30. How do Archaens differ from the Eubacteria? ( Study
the Chemistry tip on p. 477 to help you answer part of
this question.) Also, go to
http://www.microbeworld.org/microbes/archaea/where
.aspx to help you with this question. You can also read p.
481 and understand Carl Woese’s form of classification.
What did he use as his underlying method of classifying
the three domains?
31. Name the other four kingdoms and give examples of
each.
32. List factors that result in changes in classification
systems.
33. On p. 483 begins an overview of organisms, which we
will study in detail in the second nine weeks. Become
familiar with them. You will have another textbook to
work with that takes you outside of the molecular level
of study.