Lab 2: Taxonomy

What is taxonomy’s role?

To understand the relationships between organisms.

What are the five kingdoms?

• Monera

• Protista

• Fungi

• Plantae

• Animalia

What are the three domains?

• Bacteria

• Archaea

• Eukarya

What is the role of a dichotomous key?

To identify the taxon to which an organism belongs to.

What are the guidelines to creating a dichotomous key?

1) Only 2 statements per a branch and should begin with the same name.

2) Branches located next to each other can’t start with the same word.

3) Negative statements can’t be used such as shape is round and then shape as not as above.

4) If possible more than one characteristic per branch.

5) The number of branches needed is usually equal to the number of organisms to be keyed minus 1. EX: 7 Organisms, branches = 6.

Dichotomous Key Example