Species & Taxonomy

Species definition

Group of organisms capable of interbreeding to produce living offspring

Binomial naming system

Two-part Latin or Greek name for each species

Generic name definition

Genus to which the organism belongs

Specific name definition

Species to which the organism belongs

Rules for writing names

Generic name capitalised, specific name lowercase, both underlined if handwritten

Purpose of binomial names

Allows universal identification of species

Courtship behaviour definition

Behaviour used to recognise and attract mates

Purpose of courtship behaviour

Recognise same species, synchronise mating, form pair bond, prepare to breed

Characteristics shared in courtship

Physical, biochemical, behavioural

Classification definition

Naming and organising organisms into groups based on characteristics

Kingdom definition

Largest classification group of organisms

Further classification levels

Phylum, class, order, family, genus, species

Molecular phylogeny definition

Analysis of molecular differences to determine evolutionary relatedness

Outcome of molecular phylogeny

New taxonomic groupings

Three domains of life

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryota

Hominids definition

Family of primates including humans and great apes

Genus in classification

Group of closely related species

Family in classification

Group of related genera

Order in classification

Group of related families

Class in classification

Group of related orders

Phylum in classification

Group of related classes

Species in classification

Smallest classification group

Peer review definition

Process where scientists evaluate and validate research findings

Scientific journals purpose

Publish and disseminate research

Scientific conferences purpose

Present research to community

Evidence evaluation process

Collect, study, support or reject scientific suggestions