Biodiversity

There are 13 billion known species of organisms! And this is only 5% of all organisms that EVER lived! New organisms are still being found and identified.

What is Classification?

1. It is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities. 
2. Classification is also known as taxonomy. 
3. Taxonomy are scientists that identify & name organisms. 

The benefits of classifying: 

1. An accurate and uniformed way to name organisms
2. Prevents misnomers such as starfish and jellyfish that aren't really fish
3. Uses some language (Latin or Greek) for all names. 

Early Taxonomists

2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first every Taxonomist. 

John Ray, a botanist. 

• 2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first taxonomist.
• Aristotle divided organisms into plants and animals.
• He subdivided them into their habitat.
• John Ray, a botanist, was the first to use Latin for naming. 
• his names were very long descriptions telling everything about the plant. 

Carolus Linnaeus

• Father of taxonomy
• Developed the modern system of naming known as binomial nomenclature
• Two word name (genus and species) --> How "homosapiens" came about! 

Father of taxonomy.

Standardized Naming - Binomial Nomenclature 

• Binomial nomenclature
• genus species
• latin or greek
• italicized in print 
• Captialize genus not species
• underline when writing 

Giant panda!

Polar bear.

Mama grizzly bear and Baby grizzly bear! AWW! <3

Rules for naming organisms

• The International Code for Binomial Nomenclature contains the rules for naming organisms
• All names must be approved by International Naming Congress (International Zoological Congress) 
• This prevents duplicated names

Classification Groups

• Taxon (taxa - plural) is a category into which related organisms into which related organisms are placed
• There is a hierarchy go groups (taxa) from broadest to most specific 
• Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Domains 

• Broadest, most inclusive taxon
• Three domains
• Archaea and eubacteria are unicellular prokaryotes (no nucleus or membrane - bound organelles) 
• Eukarya are more complex and have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles

Taxons

• Most genera contain a number of similar species with the exception of home that only contains modern humans
• Each successive classification category or taxon contains more different types of organisms than the preceding category

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Philip

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Gooseberry 

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