Classification & Taxonomy

What is classification?

The process of organising organisms into groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.

What is taxonomy?

The science of naming and classifying organisms.

Who developed the traditional classification system?

Carl Linnaeus.

What is the traditional hierarchy of classification?

Kingdom → phylum → class → order → family → genus → species.

What is a kingdom?

A large classification group containing related phyla.

What is a phylum?

A classification group containing related classes.

What is a genus?

A group containing closely related species.

What is a species?

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring, in the usual biological definition.

What is binomial naming?

A system that gives every species a two-part scientific name.

What are the two parts of a binomial name?

The genus name and species name.

How should scientific species names be written?

The genus starts with a capital letter, the species name is lowercase, and both are italicised.

What is the scientific name of humans?

Homo sapiens.

Why is binomial naming useful?

It provides a universal naming system, avoiding confusion between common names.

Why are organisms classified into groups?

To make it easier to identify, study and compare organisms.

Why has classification changed over time?

New genetic and biochemical evidence has revealed evolutionary relationships.

Why can DNA analysis improve classification?

It allows scientists to compare genetic similarities and infer common ancestry.

What does a high similarity in DNA sequences suggest?

Organisms may share a more recent common ancestor.

Why is classification based only on appearance sometimes misleading?

Unrelated organisms can evolve similar features independently.

What is the relationship between classification and evolution?

Modern classification aims to reflect evolutionary relationships and common ancestry.