Taxonomy

Taxonomy

The branch of biology that identifies, names, & classifies species based on their natural relationships.

Linnaean Classification

A system developed by Carolus Linnaeus to classify organisms into two kingdoms: Animals and Vegetables.

Five-Kingdom System

A classification system proposed by Robert H. Whittaker in 1969 that includes Monera, Protists, Plants, Fungi, and Animals.

Domains

The highest taxonomic rank, which includes three groups: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Phylogenetic Tree

A branched diagram that shows the relationships among organisms and their common ancestry.

Dichotomous Key

A tool used to identify unknown organisms through a series of paired descriptions.

Bacteria

Single-celled prokaryotes that can be autotrophic or heterotrophic, found in nearly every habitat on Earth.

Archaea

A group of prokaryotic organisms known as extremophiles, capable of surviving in extreme environments.

Species

The most specific level of classification, a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Genus

A taxonomic group of similar, related species, the first part of a scientific name.

Kingdom

A taxonomic group that includes related phyla or divisions, classified by certain traits.

Systematics

The current classification method that uses all available evidence to categorize organisms.

Eukarya

One of the three domains which includes organisms with eukaryotic cells.

Extremophiles

Organisms, such as some archaea, that live in extreme environmental conditions.

Peptidoglycan

A structural component found in the cell walls of bacteria.

Nitrogen Fixation

The process by which certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants.