Biological Classification

taxonomy

Classifying organisms into categories based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships

species

a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring; most specific level of biological classification

scientific name

formally given to each organism; typically consisting of a Genus (capitalized) and a species (lowercase) and italicized (typed) or underlined (handwritten)

3 domains

Broadest taxonomic level; consisting of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya

Kingdom

Second highest taxonomic level; groups together species with shared fundamental characteristics; Animalia, Plantae, Protista, and Fungi

binomial nomenclature

latin, scientific name for organisms consisting of 2 parts (genus, species)

Carolus Linnaeus

“Father of taxonomy”; developed the binomial nomenclature system

Levels of taxonomy for most broad to most specific

Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Domain Archaea

prokaryotic organisms distinct from bacteria; often found in extreme environments (i.e. halophiles, thermophiles)

Domain Bacteria

prokaryotic organisms with a cell wall; found in a variety of environments; may be beneficial or pathogenic (disease causing/harmful)

Domain Eukarya

multicellular and unicellular organisms with complex cells that include a nucleus and membrane bound organelles; includes animals, plants, fungi, and protists

Fungi

a kingdom of eukaryotic organisms; primarily decomposers; yeasts, molds, mushrooms

Protista

diverse kingdom of eukaryotic organisms; may be autotrophs or heterotrophs; some with cell wall/some without; typically smaller and found in moist environments; amoeba, paramecium, slime molds, algae

Plantae

kingdom of eukaryotes with cell walls made of cellulose; autotrophic primarily through photosynthesis and collect sunlight with chloroplasts; includes flowering plants, ferns, mosses

Animalia

kingdom of multicellular eukaryotes that are heterotrophic and lack cell walls; have complex developmental stages; includes humans, insects, sponges, worms