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ClassificationFinding Order in Diversity

Naming SpeciesScientist have named about 1.5 million species

However, it is estimated that there still are 2-100 million additional species yet to be discovered

Why Classify?In order to best study lifes diversity, classifying organisms helps to group them in a logical mannerIt allows all scientists to have a shared name for each individual speciesIt gives information about each organismi.e. Why do we call birds, birds?The scientific term for giving organisms an universally accepted name is called TAXONOMYTaxonomyTaxonomist name organisms both in broad and specific terms

Give organisms scientific names helps to classify what the organism looks and acts like

It helps to both give information and avoid confusionWe use classification as a society everywhereWhy do we call some people doctors, lawyers, teachers, garbage men, mechanics?

Take it a step furtherPediatriciansDermatologistOncologistsCardiologistsEtcMoutain Lion, Puma, Cougar, or Panther.which is correct?Taxonomy helps to avoid confusion caused by regional names

Felis Concolor

Early Efforts at naming were complicatedWhen scientists first tried to name each organism, names of over 20 words were common

However, Binomial Nomenclature, which is a 2-name naming structure was proposed by Carolus LinnaeusBionomial NomenclatureEach species gets a 2-part scientific nameThe whole name is always italicizedThe first name is always capitalized, second is lower cased

For example, the Grizzly Bear has the name of Ursus arctos

The first name is the Genus, and the second is the SpeciesLinnaeuss SystemLinnaeus came up with a 7 taxon level naming system.

They are (in order from largest to smallest)KingdomPhylumClassOrder FamilyGenus Species

Taxonomic GroupsSpeciesRefers individually to each unique species

GenusIs a group of closely related species

Taxonomic groupsFamilySpecies that share many characteristics (like all types of bears would fit in one family

Order:Is a broad taxonomic grouping for similar families

ClassContains organisms that share similar ordersFor example, carnivoria is placed in the class mammaliaTaxonomic GroupsPhylumIs composed of several different classes. Includes many different organisms, yet they do share similar important traitsIncludesAves (mammals and birds)ReptiliaAmphibiaChordata (all fish)

Taxonomic GroupsKingdomIs the largest and most inclusive category.IncludesEubacteriaArchaebacterisProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia

The 3 domain systemModern advances in molecular technology has led to a broader category than kingdom, it called DomainThere are 3 different domains1. Eukarya 2. Bacteria3. Archaea

BacteriaMembers are unicellular and prokaryoticHave thick rigid cell walls that surround the cell membrane that have peptidoglycanCorresponds to the kingdom EubacteriaDiversity includes free living soil to deadly parasitesSome photosynthesize, some dontSome need oxygen, to others its toxic

ArchaeaAll are unicellular and prokaryoticLive in the most extreme of environmentsVolcanic hot springs, brine pools, black organic mud that has no oxygenCell walls dont have peptidoglycan, and contain unusual lipids

This domain corresponds to the kingdom Archaebacteria

EukaryaAll organisms in eukarya have a nucleusIs composed of 4 kingdoms: protista, fungi, plantae, and animalia

ProtistaIs composed of eukaryotic organisms that cannot be classified as animals, plants or fungi

It is the LEAST satisfying category that we have, due to complex variety Some are multicellular, most are unicellularSome are photosyntheticSome are heterotrophicSome share some characteristics with plants, some with animals, and some with fungiFungiAll members in this kingdom are heterotrophsHave Cell walls that contain chitinMost feed on dead or decaying organic matterThey ingest digestive enzymes into their food source and then absorb the smaller broken down molecules into their bodies

Some examples are mushrooms and yeastPlantaeAll members of this kingdom are multicellular photosynthetic autotrophsAll are non-motileTheir cell wall contain celluloseIncludesCone bearing plantsFlowering plantsMossesFernsAnimaliaAll are multicellular and heterotrophicCells do not have cell wallsMost are mobileExtremely vast in variety