Taxonomy Notes

Taxonomy – study of classification

Carolus Linnaeus – the father of modern taxonomy

Linnaeus used binomial nomenclature to name organisms. 

Binomial nomenclature – a two word naming system

Linnaeus used the scientific name to name organisms.

Scientific name – consists of the genus and species names

Facts about the scientific name:

• Latin or Latinized words
• Latin is used because it is a dead language that will not develop slang
• The scientific name is universal, which is a great advantage over common names which vary even within local regions.
• Scientific names are descriptive.
• Genus name is first and capitalized
• Species name is second and lower case
• Both genus and species names are underlined or typed in italics.

Levels of Classification

v     Kingdom – broadest level of  classification

v     Phylum

v     Class

v     Order

v     Family

v     Genus

v     Species – narrowest level of classification

Members of the same order are also members of the same class, phylum, and kingdom.

Linnaeus based his classification on morphology, the appearance of the organism and its structures.  Today classification is based on biochemical similarities, comparing DNA and proteins.  It is also based on cladistics, the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Dichotomous key – set of paired opposing characteristics used to identify organisms