What is Classification?? Classification is the arrangement of
organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities.
Classification is also known as taxonomy. A person who identifies
and names organisms is known as a Taxonomist.
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Why do we Classify Organisms? To have accurate and universal
names for organisms (regardless of what language you speak).
Prevents the mis-naming of organisms (such as starfish and jelly
fish which are not really fish!!
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History of Classification - Boring old people, yeah!! Aristotle
was the first official taxonomist 2000 years ago. He divided
organisms into two categories - plants and animals He then
subdivided them based on their habitat (land, sea, air), And by
their morphology (the way they look).
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Problems with Aristotle's System Species are not unchanging Did
not account for evolutionary relationships among organisms Some
organisms did not fit easily Frogs live on land and in water
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Carolus Linnaeus 18 th century taxonomist Called the Father of
Taxonomy Based his classification system on observable
characteristics. Developed binomial nomenclature.
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Binomial Nomenclature Two-Part naming system. First part Genus
Second part species It is always in Latin Capitalize Genus but NOT
species Italicize when typing; underline when writing.
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Todays Classification System Still uses all the things
Aristotle and Linnaeus brought to the table. In addition, we now
know about DNA! DNA allows us to examine how closely related
organisms are to one another.
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Taxonomic Categories Taxon (plural = taxa) is a category into
which related organisms are placed. There is a hierarchy of 8
groups (taxa) from broadest to most specific. Domain, Kingdom,
Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
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How to remember the order of the Taxa! Dear King Phillip Came
Over For Good Soup!
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Turn to page 489! ACTIVITY: Classify a giant panda, Ailuropoda
melanoleuca, completely from domain to species level by referring
to Figure 17.4.
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Answer to Activity: Eukarya, Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia,
Carnivora, Ursidae, Ailuropoda, melanoleuca