Why Classify Classification makes it easier to answer

Why Classify? Classification makes it easier to answer questions about living things such as • How many known species are there? • What are the defining characteristics of each species? • What are the relationships between these species?

TAXONOMY The science of describing, classifying, and naming living things Levels of Classification • • Kingdom (largest, most general) Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species (only one kind of organism) King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti

BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE (TWO NAMES) What is a puma vs. a mountain lion vs. a cougar? Names are in Latin or Greek so that all scientists use the same name Linnaeus simplified the naming process with two parts; genus and Felis concolor species. Genus is always capitalized, species is lower case Genus and species are in italics

Felis domesticus House cat Tyrannosaurus T. rex Canis familiaris Homo sapien Panthera onca Dog Human Jaguar

DICHOTOMOUS KEY A guide to identifying organisms It is based on statements/questions that will be answered with one of two responses. These responses lead you to other statements until you reach the identity of the organism.

1 B. PAPER. . . . GO TO 5 2 A. BROWN (COPPER). . . . PENNY 2 B. SILVER. . . . GO TO 3 3 A. SMOOTH EDGE. . . . . NICKEL. 3 B. RIDGES AROUND THE EDGE. . GO TO 4 4 A. TORCH ON BACK. . . . . DIME 4 B. EAGLE ON BACK. . . . . QUARTER 5 A. NUMBER 1 IN THE CORNERS. . $1 BILL

IMPORTANT TERMS Prokaryote – having no nucleus Eukaryote – having a nucleus Unicellular – made up of one single cell Multicellular – made up of more than one cell Autotroph – make their own food Heterotroph – get food from consuming something else

Archaebacteria Fungi • Prokaryote; Single-cell • autotrophs and heterotrophs • Cell walls containing NO peptidoglycan • extremophiles • “ancient” bacteria • Eukaryote; mostly multi-cell, some singlecell • heterotrophs, external digestion • Cell walls made of chitin • mushrooms, mold, yeast Eubacteria Plantae • Prokaryote; Single-cell • autotrophs and heterotrophs • Cell wall contain peptidoglycan • E. coli, strep throat, cheese • “true” bacteria • Eukaryote; Multi-cell • Autotrophs • Cells walls made of cellulose • trees, flowers, shrubs Protista Animalia • Eukaryote; mostly single-cell, some multicell • Cell walls made of cellulose • autotrophs and heterotrophs • algae, paramecium, diatoms • Eukaryote; Multi-cell • heterotrophs, internal digestion • No cell walls • mosquito, fish, dog