A Cat by any other Name Objective To

A Cat by any other Name. . . Objective: To demonstrate how to name an organism using binomial nomenclature Bell work: Which of the following are correct ways to write a scientific name? Homo sapiens Homo Sapiens homo sapiens Homo sapiens © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

If you were to draw a picture of your cat, would it look the same as your neighbor’s cat? If you said “no”, maybe it’s because the common word cat refers to all kinds of cat-like animals, ranging from the common housecat, all the way up to the king of cats, the lion. The scientific name for an animal is very different from it’s common name. Each organism in the world has been given an internationally recognized scientific name that is unique to its species that is made through the process of classifying the organism. Picture a “cat” maybe in your mind. this one? Is it this cat? How ‘bout this one? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

What You Need to Know: Taxonomy: the study of classifying or organizing living things into categories based on common characteristics Carolus Linnaeus: father of modern taxonomy. Linnaeus classified things according to where they lived. . . LAND AIR WATER Unfortunately, this method left a few with no group to really call “home”. . . © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

. . . where do I fit in. . . ? With lots of hard Pelicans utilize work, Linnaeus was ALL three: able to develop a land, air AND more selective system that we still water. . . use today! © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

ENTER. . . the Levels of Classification BROAD: DOMAIN Includes ALL living things; categorized into EUKARYA, BACTERIA OR ARCHAEA KINGDOM: Sorts the domains into six categories: ARCHAEBACTERIA, EUBACTERIA, PROTISTA, FUNGI, PLANTAE, and ANIMALIA PHYLUM: divides Kingdoms; includes many classes CLASS: divides phyla; includes many orders ORDER: divides classes; includes many families FAMILY: divides orders; includes several genera GENUS: group of closely related organisms; one or more species ALL CRABS ALL ANIMALS ALL ARTHROPODS ALL EUKAROTIC ALL CRUSTACEANS ALL CRABS & SHRIMP SPECIFIC: SPECIES THIS CRAB ALL CRABS AND SHRIMP WITH 10 LEGS A group of similar organisms that can mate and reproduce with one another; One UNIQUE name for EVERY ORGANISM © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

The levels are designed to show relationships with other organisms. For example, using the seven level classification system, the common housecat would be classified as: Domain Eukarya: Made of cells that have nuclei and membranebound organelles Kingdom Animalia: Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophs that can move on their own Phylum Chordata: Animals with backbones Class Mammalia: Vertebrates that have fur, are warm blooded and make milk for their young Order Carnivora: Mammals that eat meat Family Felidae: Carnivores that are cats Genus Felis: Cats that do not roar Species catus: Small domesticated cats The cat’s full name would be: Eukarya animalia chordata mammalia carnivora felidae felis catus © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

That’s a Mouthful! Thank Goodness for. . . Binomial Nomenclature: two-name naming system - Eliminates confusion caused by common names (i. e. CAT) - Written in Latin or Greek - Names chosen based on: • Characteristics of the organism (physical, behavioral, genetic): Apoda – amphibians “without feet” • Commemorate a person: Potanthus confucious – named after chinese philosopher, Confucious • Place of discovery: Lactobacillus sanfrancisco – named for the bread it helps to make in California © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

How Do We WRITE it? Composed of the Genus and species The first letter of the Genus is always capitalized The first letter of the species is always lowercase Scientific names can be written in italics or underlined, but not both! Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

What Do We Use to Classify? Classify according to: - Cell type - Genetic makeup - Embryonic development - Reproduction/mating habits: asexual or sexual - Eating habits: autotroph or heterotroph - Physical characteristics - Other behaviors © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

What You Do: You just traveled to the Galapagos and discovered a new volcanic island that has gone undetected for almost a century! On it, you find a type of flightless bird with several noticeable characteristics. Since no one has seen them before, it’s your job to name them using the characteristics you can see. Remember that the genus should reflect the main group to which the organism belongs. The species name should reflect distinctive features of each organism, such as it’s appearance, location of discovery, or behaviors. Remember to use the rules of binomial nomenclature. Latin and Greek roots are provided in the table. © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

First, let’s review the roots we’ve been given. . . Greek or Latin Root a-, anbi- English meaning no, not two capill- hair cephalo-, cephalic macro© 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC Greek or Latin Root micromonopinni-, pinnate English meaning small one head -stoma mouth large feather

What characteristics do you see? There are two types of beaks! Are there any characteristics that Now, let’s look at our bird population. . . Small beaks and large beaks. . . divide our birds into two main groups? © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

Since beak size is the major difference between our bird species, let’s use that to guide our genus name. . . what roots might you use? Greek or Latin Root a-, anbi- English meaning no, not two capill- hair cephalo-, cephalic macro© 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC Greek or Latin Root micromonopinni-, pinnate English meaning small one head -stoma mouth large feather

To begin, how should we describe it? So, let’s try to give bird #1 a name: . . . a small beak. . . a round body. . . three feathers on its head. . . two webbed feet. . . two round, black eyes © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

Using your roots: . . . a small mouth = “micro” + “stoma”. .

How Did YOU Do? 1. Microstoma tripinnicephalic 2. Macrostoma tritrichocephalic 3. Macrostoma bipinnicephalic 4. Macrostoma tripinnicephalic 5. Microstoma monopinnicephalic 6. Microstoma monotrichocephalic 7. Macrostoma monopinnicephalic 8. Microstoma bitrichocephalic 9. Macrostoma monotrichocephalic 10. Microstoma tritrichocephalic 11. Microstoma bipinnicephalic 12. Microstoma apinnitrichocephalic © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC

How Did YOU Do? 13. Closely examine the organisms. Is there another way you could classify them? What is it? YES! By using their tail feathers! 14. Look up the root for the word “tail. ” What is it? -uro Rename organisms 1 -4 using the new root. Microstoma anuropinnate Macrostoma monuropinnate Macrostoma triuropinnate Macrostoma biuropinnate © 2015 Getting Nerdy, LLC