Biological Classification and Cladograms

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to biological classification and cladograms.

Taxonomy

The science of classifying organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.

Domain

The highest taxonomic rank, which classifies life into three broad categories: Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.

Derived characteristics

Traits that are present in recent parts of a lineage but absent in older generations.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the evolutionary relationships between organisms based on shared derived characteristics.

Common ancestor

An ancestral species from which later species evolve.

Vertebrae

A characteristic trait of animals that possess a backbone.

Tetrapod

A type of vertebrate that has four limbs.

Amniotic egg

An egg that contains a protective membrane and allows for the development of terrestrial vertebrates.

Evolution

The process through which species of organisms change over time through mutations, selection, and genetic drift.

Evolutionary changes

Alterations that occur in species or their features over time that contribute to their adaptation.

Evolutionary tree

A graphical representation of the evolutionary relationships among species, typically showing divergence from common ancestors.

The levels of the taxonomic ladder from top to bottom are __________.

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