About this Flash Card Set
14 Cards
by olivia_bennett
Learn how scientists name and organize the diversity of life, from domains down to species. A clear review of taxonomy with an easy mnemonic to remember the ranks.
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What is taxonomy?
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The science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms into groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships.
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List the taxonomic ranks in order, broadest to most specific.
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Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. Each level is a smaller, more specific group than the one before it.
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What is a common mnemonic for the taxonomic ranks?
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'Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup' — Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
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What is binomial nomenclature?
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The two-word Latin naming system for species: Genus + species. The genus is capitalized, species is lowercase, and both are italicized — for example, Homo sapiens.
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What are the three domains of life?
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Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Bacteria and Archaea are single-celled prokaryotes; Eukarya includes all organisms with cells that have a nucleus.
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What is the difference between Bacteria and Archaea?
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Both are prokaryotes, but Archaea often live in extreme environments (hot springs, salty lakes) and differ from Bacteria in cell wall and membrane chemistry.
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What kingdoms make up the domain Eukarya?
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Traditionally Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia — all organisms whose cells have a nucleus.
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How is a species defined?
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A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. It is the most specific level of classification.
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Genus vs. species — what is the difference?
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A genus is a group of closely related species. A species is a single type within that genus. For example, in Panthera leo (lion), Panthera is the genus and leo is the species.
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Who was Carl Linnaeus?
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An 18th-century Swedish scientist called the 'father of taxonomy.' He created the binomial nomenclature system and the hierarchy of ranks still used today.
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Why do scientists classify organisms?
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To organize the huge diversity of life, show evolutionary relationships, give each species a clear universal name, and make studying and communicating about organisms easier.
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Why use Latin scientific names instead of common names?
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Common names vary by language and region and can be confusing. A Latin scientific name is unique and universal, so scientists everywhere know exactly which organism is meant.
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What does 'prokaryote' mean, and which domains are prokaryotic?
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A prokaryote is a single-celled organism whose cell lacks a true nucleus. The domains Bacteria and Archaea are prokaryotic.
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To which taxonomic groups do humans belong?
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Domain Eukarya, Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Homo, Species sapiens.
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