Classification of Microorganisms

These flashcards cover key concepts from the classification of microorganisms, including taxonomic hierarchy, definitions, major classification systems, and methodologies used in identification and classification.

What is the science of classifying organisms called?

Taxonomy.

What does the term 'Taxon' refer to?

A biological classification grouping of any rank such as species, family, class, etc.

What is phylogeny?

The evolutionary history of a particular group of organisms.

What is the aim of the All Species Inventory (2001-2025)?

To identify all species of life on Earth, having discovered 8.7 million species to date.

Which kingdoms were included in Linnaeus' classification system?

Plant and Animal Kingdoms.

What major classification system was established in 1969?

Five Kingdom system by Whittaker.

Who established the Three-Domain system and in what year?

Carl Woese in 1978.

What does the Domain Eukarya include?

The Kingdoms Fungi, Plantae, Animalia, and protists.

What characterizes prokaryotic species?

A population of cells with similar characteristics.

What is the role of Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology?

It provides identification schemes for identifying bacteria and archaea.

How are eukaryotic species defined?

A group of closely related organisms that breed among themselves.

What characterizes the Three-Domain System?

Each Domain has unique rRNA sequences.

What is a DNA fingerprint?

Electrophoresis of restriction enzyme digests used to compare banding patterns.

What is cladistics?

A method of classification where organisms are grouped by common ancestry.

What does a cladogram represent?

A branched map based on rRNA sequences that reveals evolutionary relatedness.

What is the significance of rRNA in classification?

It is essential for all cells and has been highly conserved throughout evolutionary history.