LESSON 2: CLASSIFICATION, TAXONOMY & NAMING
Background Information
Classification
In biology there are millions of different plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc. In order to study them, scientists put them into groups under different orders of classification. Classification is used to group organisms in a meaningful way.
Traditionally classification was based upon morphological and behavioural traits, and geographical location. With the advances in technology, it is now common to use biomolecular evidence to determine evolutionary relationships between organisms. It is now known that traits are the result of structure and function, and DNA and protein analysis can be used to find the relationship between organisms.
Taxonomy
This is the science of identifying and classifying all organisms.
The scientists that do this work are called taxonomists.
In biology there are millions of different plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc. In order to study them, scientists put them into groups under different orders of classification. Classification is used to group organisms in a meaningful way.
Traditionally classification was based upon morphological and behavioural traits, and geographical location. With the advances in technology, it is now common to use biomolecular evidence to determine evolutionary relationships between organisms. It is now known that traits are the result of structure and function, and DNA and protein analysis can be used to find the relationship between organisms.
Taxonomy
This is the science of identifying and classifying all organisms.
The scientists that do this work are called taxonomists.
Aristotle
Developed the Great Chain of Being with Plato. This was a religious hierarchical structure for all matter and life and was believed to be decreed by God. In this system, the chain began with God, followed by angelic beings, humanity, animals, plants, and then minerals. Each level of the chain could be further subdivided.
He was also responsible for diving the living world between plants and animals. He was responsible for classifying over 500 organisms, and placed them within his system of the "Ladder of Life" (Scala Naturae). In this system he placed animals above plants because of their ability to move, and then classified animals based upon the complexity of their structure and function.
He was also responsible for diving the living world between plants and animals. He was responsible for classifying over 500 organisms, and placed them within his system of the "Ladder of Life" (Scala Naturae). In this system he placed animals above plants because of their ability to move, and then classified animals based upon the complexity of their structure and function.
Carl Linnaeus
He was a Swedish botanist and is considered to be the “Father” of taxonomy.
He grouped animals into groups called taxons (taxa = singular). Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species -> Kids put chocolate on father’s good shirt
He devised a consistent way of grouping species according to their morphological similarities. Morphological refers to the physical traits of an organism.
He also invented the scientific naming system that we still use today called Binomial nomenclature.
Naming
Before organisms can be classified, it is important to be able to identify them.
All organisms have a Common Name, which is used in everyday language. The problem with common names if that different groups of people may have different names for the same organisms, and this changes upon the area that people live in, the language they speak, etc. Thus a single organism can have a variety of common names.
Scientific names were developed by Linneaus in order ease this confusion. The scientific names are used by scientists all over the world and use the Binomial Nomenclature format, where each species is assigned a genus name followed by a species name. The two words together form the species' name: Genus species. The both words are always italicized and if that is not possible then they are underlined. The genus is always capitalized, while the species is always lower case. An example describing humans is: Homo sapiens.
It is possible to give other examples to show how the genus does not change for closely related species, but the specific species does. Examples: Tiger- Panthera tigris, Lion- Panthera leo
Today the naming of species follows a very specific set of rules. For plants, the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) is the regulator, while for animals it is the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
He grouped animals into groups called taxons (taxa = singular). Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species -> Kids put chocolate on father’s good shirt
He devised a consistent way of grouping species according to their morphological similarities. Morphological refers to the physical traits of an organism.
He also invented the scientific naming system that we still use today called Binomial nomenclature.
Naming
Before organisms can be classified, it is important to be able to identify them.
All organisms have a Common Name, which is used in everyday language. The problem with common names if that different groups of people may have different names for the same organisms, and this changes upon the area that people live in, the language they speak, etc. Thus a single organism can have a variety of common names.
Scientific names were developed by Linneaus in order ease this confusion. The scientific names are used by scientists all over the world and use the Binomial Nomenclature format, where each species is assigned a genus name followed by a species name. The two words together form the species' name: Genus species. The both words are always italicized and if that is not possible then they are underlined. The genus is always capitalized, while the species is always lower case. An example describing humans is: Homo sapiens.
It is possible to give other examples to show how the genus does not change for closely related species, but the specific species does. Examples: Tiger- Panthera tigris, Lion- Panthera leo
Today the naming of species follows a very specific set of rules. For plants, the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) is the regulator, while for animals it is the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
Carl Woese
In the 1970s he began to find evidence for a previously unknown group of prokaryotic organism that lived in extreme environments. They appeared to be prokaryotic, were considered to be bacteria, and were named archaebacteria, meaning ancient bacteria.
He developed the Three Domains of Life System, with domains being a higher taxon than kingdoms.
Current Taxonomic Classification
Domain
The highest taxonomic level of the modern system of classification according to Woese.
There are three domains: Bacteria, Eukarya, Archaea
Kingdom
The highest taxonomic level of the traditional Linneaen system of classification.
There are six Kingdoms under the Woese System: Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Animalia, Plantae, Fungi
Group
A group of similar species
Species
All organisms capable of breeding freely with each other under natural conditions.
The highest taxonomic level of the modern system of classification according to Woese.
There are three domains: Bacteria, Eukarya, Archaea
Kingdom
The highest taxonomic level of the traditional Linneaen system of classification.
There are six Kingdoms under the Woese System: Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Animalia, Plantae, Fungi
Group
A group of similar species
Species
All organisms capable of breeding freely with each other under natural conditions.
Lesson Outline
HOOK
Images of random number of household items.
ACTION
Defining classification and taxonomy
Aristotle
Linneaus
Woese
CONSOLIDATION
Images of different groups of animals.
Images of random number of household items.
- Is there any way that they are similar or different?
- What types of groups could we make of these objects
ACTION
Defining classification and taxonomy
Aristotle
- Great Chain of Being
- Plant and animal classification
Linneaus
- Father of taxonomy. Created the hierarchical classification system of taxa: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
- Activity: Classifying Life Interactive
- Invented the scientific binomial naming system we still use today.
- Activity: Online Species Naming Game
- Go through an example for humans, Homo sapians, through the taxon and naming system
Woese
- Created the taxon domain. It is the current system we use.
CONSOLIDATION
Images of different groups of animals.
- How could they be classified/names?
- Handed in as an exit slip.
Additional Teaching Resources
References
All images are from wikipedia.org unless otherwise stated.
About.com. "Scientific Name Game." Biology. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/bl01snq.htm
Bhattacharjee, Suman. "Evolution of three domains - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgjvER-GUjw
Di Giuseppe, M., Fraser, D, LeDrew, B, & Roberts, J. (2003). Biology 11: College Preparation. Nelson, Canada.
Ellis, C., Muller, M.R., Panayiotou, H. E., Sharp, J. C., Webb, P. (2011). Biology Source 11. Pearson Investigating Science, Toronto, Ontario.
Groleau, Rick. "NOVA | Classifying Life." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/classifying-life.html
Mahalo. "Learn Biology: Classification- The Taxonomic Hierarchy - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwOlAqQoLk
Mahalo. "Learn Biology: How to Read Scientific Names - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VVKynG3C1g&list=PL66DB077C19E5FF8D
Natural History Muesum. "A film about Carl Linnaeus | Natural History Museum - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb_IO-SzLgk
Towers, Dwight. "The Great Chain of Being - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u73vB07oKU
About.com. "Scientific Name Game." Biology. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/bl01snq.htm
Bhattacharjee, Suman. "Evolution of three domains - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgjvER-GUjw
Di Giuseppe, M., Fraser, D, LeDrew, B, & Roberts, J. (2003). Biology 11: College Preparation. Nelson, Canada.
Ellis, C., Muller, M.R., Panayiotou, H. E., Sharp, J. C., Webb, P. (2011). Biology Source 11. Pearson Investigating Science, Toronto, Ontario.
Groleau, Rick. "NOVA | Classifying Life." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/classifying-life.html
Mahalo. "Learn Biology: Classification- The Taxonomic Hierarchy - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwOlAqQoLk
Mahalo. "Learn Biology: How to Read Scientific Names - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VVKynG3C1g&list=PL66DB077C19E5FF8D
Natural History Muesum. "A film about Carl Linnaeus | Natural History Museum - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb_IO-SzLgk
Towers, Dwight. "The Great Chain of Being - YouTube." YouTube. Retrieved on Jan 14, 2013 from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u73vB07oKU