Week 1 - Taxonomy

What is Taxonomy?

• A branch of biology concerned with identifying and naming organisms.

• Carolus Linnaeus developed the binomial system to name species using a two-part Latin name.

Who developed the binomial system for naming species?

Carolus Linnaeus.

What are the two-parts of the binomial naming systems?

1. Genus - Groups closely related species.

2. Specific epithet (name) - Usually descriptive about the organism.

What are the formatting rules for binomial names?

• Names are italicized or underlined if handwritten.

• Only the genus name is capitalized.

• Genus can be abbreviated with the specific epithet after full name is used once.

• Example; Escherichia coli - E.coli.

What is the biological definition of a species?

• A group of organisms that can interbreed and share the same gene pool.

• Can be problematic because some species reproduce asexually.

What is the full taxonomic classification of humans?

• Domain > Eukarya

• Kingdom > Animalia

• Phylum > Chordata

• Class > Mammalia

• Order > Primates

• Family > Hominidae

• Genus > Homo

• Species > sapiens

What are the three domains in the three-domain system?

1. Bacteria

2. Plantae

3. Eukarya

What are the six kingdoms of life under the 6-kingdom classification system?

1. Animalia

2. Plantae

3. Fungi

4. Protista

5. Archaea

6. Bacteria

What is the purpose of the binomial system?

To provide a standardized, two-part Latin name for each species to avoid confusion in naming organisms.