The Biology Coach: AH Bio, Topic 2, Key Area 1c

3 domains of life

Archaea, Bacteria, Eukaryota

Methods of identifying an organism in a sample

Classification guides, biological keys and analysis or DNA or protein.

How are organisms classified?

by taxonomy or phylogenetics

Taxonomy

involves identification and naming of organisms and their classification into groups based on morphology/ shared characteristics.

The plant kingdom is divided into....

5 divisions

The animal kingdom is divided into...

5 phyla

Phylogenetics

the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among individuals or groups of organisms

Examples of taxonomic groups...

include nematodes, arthropods and chordates

Convergent evolution

Process by which unrelated organisms independently evolve similarities when adapting to similar environments

Divergent evolution

evolution of one or more closely related species into different species; resulting from adaptations to different environmental conditions

Model organisms are used to...

Obtain information that can be applied to species that are more difficult to study directly.

Examples of model organisms include

E. coli, Arabidopsis thaliana, C. elegans, Drosophilia melanogaster, chordates such as mice, rats and zebrafish