Taxonomy and Biological Classification Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms, Linnaean taxonomy, binomial nomenclature, and branches of biology from the lecture notes.

Taxonomy

The area of science that focuses on naming, describing, and grouping living things.

Taxonomist

A scientist who works on taxonomy by observing, describing, classifying, and naming living things.

Carl Linnaeus

An 18th-century Swedish scientist born in 1707 who revolutionized the classification of living things and created the binomial naming system.

Lapland Expedition

A 3,000-mile-long research expedition undertaken by Carl Linnaeus in 1732, during which he made detailed observations of plants and animals.

Binomial System

A system developed by Carl Linnaeus meaning 'two names', which gives every organism a unique two-part scientific name in Latin.

Genus

The first part of an organism's binomial scientific name, which is always capitalized and represents the smallest group to which the organism belongs before species.

Species

The second part of an organism's binomial name, referring to a group of organisms that share similar characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile young.

Domain

The broadest category of biological classification, dividing all life into Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Kingdom

The second-highest rank in biological classification directly below domain, comprising groups such as Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Archaebacteria, and Eubacteria.

Biological Classification Hierarchy

The nested categories of biological classification arranged by increasing specificity: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Anatomy

The branch of biology focused on the study of body structure.

Botany

The branch of biology focused on the study of plants.

Zoology

The branch of biology focused on the study of animals.

Microbiology

The branch of biology focused on the study of microorganisms.

Genetics

The branch of biology focused on the study of genes.

Ecology

The branch of biology focused on the study of the environment.

Physiology

The branch of biology focused on the study of body functions.

Mycology

The branch of biology focused on the study of fungi.

Entomology

The branch of biology focused on the study of insects.

Ornithology

The branch of biology focused on the study of birds.

Ichthyology

The branch of biology focused on the study of fish.

Herpetology

The branch of biology focused on the study of reptiles.

Cytology

The branch of biology focused on cell analysis.

Virology

The branch of biology focused on the study of viruses.

Pathology

The branch of biology and medicine focused on the study of disease.

Paleontology

The branch of biology focused on the study of fossils.