Experiment # 2: Diversity of Life

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the Linnaean taxonomy system, the three domains of life, bacterial morphologies, and representative eukaryotic organisms studied in Experiment # 2.

Taxonomy

The science that addresses the identification and classification of living organisms (species).

Carolus Linnaeus

The botanist who developed the Linnaean classification system in the early 1700s based on shared morphological traits.

Linnaean Classification System

A hierarchical biological classification system based on shared obvious morphological traits that assigns each organism a two-part Latin name.

Binomial Nomenclature

The two-part Latin naming system where the first word designates the genus and the second word designates the species (e.g., Homo sapiens).

Taxa

The hierarchical groupings (singular, taxon) in the Linnaean classification system that range from kingdom down to species.

Kingdom

The largest Linnaean taxonomic grouping, in which member organisms share only a few basic similarities.

Species

The most exclusive Linnaean taxonomic grouping, consisting of organisms that are very similar and smoothly interbreed.

Genus

A taxonomic category (plural, genera) consisting of different closely related species, situated between species and family.

Three-Domain System

A biological classification system complementary to the Linnaean system, based on cellular organization and genetic differences, dividing life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Domain Bacteria

A domain comprising prokaryotic organisms that have simple cells lacking membrane-bound nuclei.

Domain Archaea

A domain of prokaryotic organisms predominantly found in extreme environments that are genetically distinct from bacteria.

Domain Eukarya

A domain consisting of all eukaryotic organisms possessing nucleated cells, comprising the kingdoms Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Ursus americanus

The scientific name for the American black bear, classified under genus Ursus, family Ursidae, order Carnivora, class Mammalia, phylum Chordata, kingdom Animalia, and domain Eukarya.

Methylene Blue

A histological stain mixed with water and biological samples (such as yogurt smears) to prepare bacterial wet mounts for light microscopy.

Cocci

Spherical-shaped bacterial cells, typically found as single cells, pairs, chains, or clusters.

Bacilli

Rod-shaped bacterial cells that are longer and larger than spherical cocci.

Streptococcus thermophilus

A bacterial species characterized by spherical-shaped cells (cocci) that typically grow in pairs or long chains.

Lactobacillus

A genus of rod-shaped bacteria (bacilli) that are longer and larger than cocci, commonly found in yogurt cultures.

Staphylococcus aureus

A spherical-shaped bacterial species (cocci) that typically clusters together in grape-like formations.

Kingdom Protista

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya comprising mostly unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms, including Paramecium and Euglena.

Paramecium

A genus of unicellular ciliated eukaryotic organisms in Kingdom Protista featuring an oral gullet, pellicle, macronucleus, micronucleus, and contractile vacuoles.

Euglena

A genus of unicellular flagellated eukaryotic organisms in Kingdom Protista containing chloroplasts, a stigma (eyespot), a reservoir, and a pellicle.

Kingdom Fungi

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya comprising heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms, such as the mold Rhizopus nigricans.

Rhizopus nigricans

A species of black bread mold belonging to Kingdom Fungi, composed of sporangiophores, sporangia, rhizoids, and stolons.

Stolon

A horizontal, surface-running hypha in Rhizopus that connects clusters of root-like rhizoids and upright sporangiophores.

Kingdom Plantae

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya comprising photosynthetic, multicellular or colonial organisms, represented in the lab by Spirogyra.

Spirogyra

A genus of filamentous green algae in Kingdom Plantae characterized by distinct spirally arranged, ribbon-like chloroplasts containing pyrenoids.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom within Domain Eukarya comprising multicellular heterotrophic organisms, represented in the lab by Planaria and Hydra.

Planaria

A genus of free-living freshwater flatworms belonging to Kingdom Animalia, characterized by eyespots, a brain, a gastrovascular cavity, and a ventral pharynx.

Hydra

A genus of small, freshwater predatory organisms in Kingdom Animalia featuring a tubular body column, tentacles around the mouth, and asexual budding.