Taxonomy

Definition

Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms to construct internationally shared classification systems. It involves organizing species into hierarchical categories based on their evolutionary relationships and characteristics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The primary ranks in taxonomy are Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
2. Carl Linnaeus is known as the father of modern taxonomy for developing the binomial nomenclature system.
3. Taxonomic classification helps scientists communicate about different species and understand their evolutionary relationships.
4. Modern taxonomy incorporates genetic data to improve accuracy in classifying organisms.
5. Phylogenetic trees visually represent the evolutionary history and relationships among species.

Review Questions

• What are the primary ranks in the taxonomic hierarchy?
• Who developed the binomial nomenclature system used in modern taxonomy?
• How does modern taxonomy differ from earlier forms of classification?

Related terms

Phylogeny: The evolutionary history and relationships among species.

Binomial Nomenclature: A two-term naming system for identifying species; it includes the genus name followed by the species name.

Cladistics: A method of classifying organisms based on common ancestry using shared derived characteristics.