Classification

Of Living Things

I. What is Classification? A. Classification is

grouping living things according to similar characteristics

How could you classify the following:

• dog• lion• fox• tiger• housecat• wolf

How could you classify the following: pine spruce oak hemlock maple alder

B.B. TaxonomyTaxonomy is the science of is the science of classification which involves identifying, classification which involves identifying, classifying, and namingclassifying, and naming taxis = arrangement or ordertaxis = arrangement or order nomy = lawnomy = law

II. DefinitionsA. Autotroph--an organism capable of making its own food

B. Heterotroph--an organism that cannot make its own food. It obtains its energy by feeding on other organisms.C. Prokaryote--an organism whose cells lack a nucleus

D. Eukaryote--an organism whose cells contain a nucleus

III.III. All living things are classified into All living things are classified into eight major groups:eight major groups:

domaindomain kingdomkingdom phylumphylum classclass orderorder familyfamily genusgenus speciesspecies

A. We can use a mnemonic device to help us remember A. We can use a mnemonic device to help us remember these: these: DDumb umb KKing ing PPhillip hillip ccame ame oover ver ffor or ggrape rape ssodaoda

B. We can use an analogy with time to help us understand how these levels are

included in the levels above Domain ……………decade

Kingdom……………year Phylum ……………month Class ……………..week Order …………….day Family …………..hour Genus ………….minute Species ………..second

General

Specific

C. Domains and Kingdoms are the largest, most inclusive, most general groups or levels

D. The genus and specific name together make up the scientific name (the species name) -- a two-part name

– The genus name is capitalized, but the specific name is not

– Scientific names are italicized (or sometimes underlined)

– Examples:

Canis lupis = wolf

= onion

= E. coli

Allium cepa

Escherichia coli

e) Species -- a group of organisms that are able to breed, producing fertile offspring

f) Genus -- may consist of several closely related species, or only one species

IV. Domains & Kingdoms

A.A. PlantsPlants Complex multicellular Complex multicellular

organismsorganisms EukaryotesEukaryotes Usually green because they Usually green because they

contain chlorophyllcontain chlorophyll Make their own food in a Make their own food in a

process called photosynthesis process called photosynthesis (autotrophs)(autotrophs)

B.B. AnimalsAnimals Complex multicellular Complex multicellular

organismsorganisms EukaryotesEukaryotes Capture and eat their food Capture and eat their food

to digest it (heterotrophs)to digest it (heterotrophs) Most can move from place Most can move from place

to placeto place Have a nervous system to Have a nervous system to

sense surroundingssense surroundings Cells lack cell wallsCells lack cell walls

C. Fungi Complex multicellular

organisms (some are unicellular)

Eukaryotes Originally classified as plants,

but do not contain chlorophyll Do not perform photosynthesis

or eat their food Absorb nutrients from their

surroundings (heterotrophs)

D.D. ProtistsProtists Single celled or simple Single celled or simple

multicellular organismsmulticellular organisms Have a nucleus -- Have a nucleus --

eukaryoteseukaryotes Animal-like, plant-like, or Animal-like, plant-like, or

fungi-like in how they fungi-like in how they obtain nutrients (some obtain nutrients (some are autotrophs, some are autotrophs, some are heterotrophs)are heterotrophs)

E. Archaea and Bacteria Extremely small, single-celled organisms Do not have a nucleus -- prokaryotes Autotrophs and heterotrophs Can live in many different environments such

as very hot, very cold, in soil, in animals, in water, and in the air

F.

Archaea

Bacteria

Prokaryotes

Protists

Fungi

Plants

Animals

Eukaryotes(Eukarya)

Organization ofDomains & Kingdoms