Classification

CP Biology

The Branch of Biology that names and groups organisms according to their characteristics and evolutionary history.

Why do we need to classify and why must the same system consistently be used by everyone?

Taxonomy

Aristotle: Greek philosopher classified living things as either PLANTS or ANIMALS over 2,000 years ago.

Was a good system until rapid scientific exploration led to many organisms being discovered…. Needed to be more specific.

Also, used common names which varied from each location.

I.E. bear or bear (koala bear)

Early Systems of Classification

Developed by Carlos Linnaeus (1707-1778).

Used seven levels of organization: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

The organization starts out large (Kingdom contains all animals) and becomes more specific as you go down {Genus Species, Homo sapiens (only Humans)}

Linnaeus’s System

System of naming organisms Used to remove confusion over local

names (bear and bear (koala bear). Uses Latin names Uses Genus and Species names to name

organisms Genus is capitalized. Species is lower case. You have to either UNDERLINE or ITALICIZE

the Genus Species

Binomial Nomenclature

The species word is the exact species identifier.

Usually a descriptive word.Ex.

Homo sapiens: Homo (man, human being)

sapiens (wise)…wise manCommon name: HumanGenus: HomoSpecies: sapiensScientific Name: Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens

Homo erectus: _________________

Genus Species

Domain Kingdom Phylum Subphylum Class Order Family Genus Species

The Taxonomic Hierarchy

Eukarya Animalia Chordata Vertebrata Mammalia Primata Hominidae Homo sapiens