Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeny

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on Taxonomy, Systematics, and Phylogeny, providing essential definitions, systems, and methodologies related to the classification of organisms.

What is systematics in biology?

The study of biodiversity and the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

What is taxonomy?

A branch of systematic biology that identifies, names, and organizes biodiversity into related categories.

Who created the classification hierarchy used today?

Carolus Linnaeus.

What is binomial nomenclature?

A system that gives each species a two-part Latin name, consisting of the genus and a specific epithet.

What is the correct order of the biological classification hierarchy from most inclusive to least inclusive?

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

What did Carl Woese propose based on rRNA sequences?

The three Domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

What is a defining characteristic of Domain Bacteria?

Prokaryotic, unicellular organisms that reproduce asexually.

What is a key feature of Domain Archaea?

They thrive in extreme environments and differ significantly from bacteria at the molecular level.

What defines Domain Eukarya?

Organisms with a membrane-bound nucleus, including unicellular and multicellular forms.

What is phylogeny?

The evolutionary history of a group represented by a phylogenetic tree.

What are ancestral traits?

Traits present in all group members and their common ancestor, not useful for determining relationships in descendants.

What are derived traits?

Traits that are present in some group members but not in the ancestor, crucial for understanding evolutionary history.

What is cladistics?

A method that uses shared and derived traits to develop hypotheses about evolutionary history, represented in a cladogram.

What is the principle of parsimony in cladistics?

The simplest solution, with the fewest evolutionary changes, is considered the optimal solution.

What are homologous structures?

Structures that are similar due to shared ancestry.

What are analogous structures?

Structures that are similar in function but not due to common ancestry.

What is one method for tracing phylogeny?

Using fossil traits to establish evolutionary relationships.

What is the significance of molecular traits in phylogeny?

Similar base-pair sequences indicate a close evolutionary relationship between organisms.