19.1 - Systematic Biology (Biology / Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht, ASU -- Twelfth Edition)

these are AI-generated flashcards from the 19.1 chapter of the aforementioned biology textbook. they cover the major vocab in systematic biology.

Systematic Biology

A quantitative science that uses traits of living and fossilized organisms to infer relationships over time.

Taxonomy

A branch of systematic biology that identifies, names, and organizes biodiversity into related categories.

Taxon

A group for organisms with shared traits.

Classification

The process that taxonomy follows to organize organisms.

Phylogeny

An evolutionary family tree that shows relationships among organisms.

Goal of Taxonomy

To classify all life on Earth into “natural groups” with shared evolutionary history.

Early Taxonomists

Relied on physical characteristics to classify organisms.

Convergent Evolution

A phenomenon where some shared traits arise independently, complicating classification based on physical characteristics.

Carolus Linnaeus

The father of modern taxonomy who devised binomial nomenclature.

Binomial Nomenclature

A naming system with the structure [Genus, specific epithet].

Genus

A taxonomic category that can contain many species.

Specific Epithet

Refers to one species within a genus.

Descriptive Names

Names based on color or shape properties of organisms.

Geographical Names

Names based on the location where organisms live.

Eponymous Names

Names based on a person's name.

Linnaean Classification Hierarchy

A nested, hierarchical set of categories used to classify organisms from least to most specific.

Classification Hierarchy Levels

Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.

Nomenclature

The procedure of assigning scientific names to taxonomic groups.