Transcript How living things are classified

How living things are
classified
Why do scientists classify living
things?
• Are classified into groups so the
organisms are easier to study
• Taxonomy- how living things are
classified
Remember the shoe classification
lab?
• How did you put your shoes into groups?
• Are classified based on characteristics
• These characteristics are narrowed down
into sub-groups
Imagine a room filled with everyone
who lives in the U.S
• How would you classify every person based on where
they live?
• Same region
• Same state
• Same city/town
• Same neighborhood
• Same street
• Goes from very general to very specific
The more levels you share with someone, the more in
common you have with them.
Levels of Classification for living organisms
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Kevin’s Poor Cow Only Feels Good Sometimes
Using the Classification System
• Can use the classification system to
identify life forms
• Taxonomic key- a series statements that
describe the physical characteristics of
different organisms
• http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/
dichoto.html
Binomial Nomenclature
• When classifying living things, organisms
are named with a two-part name
• (like your first and last name)
• This two part name is the organism’s
scientific name
Binomial Nomenclature
• First part:
• Genus- contains similar, closely related
organims
– Ex: pumas, ocelots, and house cats are all in
the genus Felis
– All of these animals share common
characteristics
Binomial Nomenclature
• When writing scientific names:
• Will always be in Latin (common
language)
• Genus is always capitalized!!!
• Species is not capitalized!!
• Both words will be italicized (if possible)
Binomial Nomenclature
• Second Part
• Species- a group of similar organisms that
can mate and produce fertile offspring
• This system distinguishes all organisms
from one another using the classification
system
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