Scientific Taxonomy

–      the study of categorizing organisms

Binomial Nomenclature – two-part scientific naming of organisms

–      the first word identifies the genus and the second word is the species

Example: Ursus americanus –

Ursus horribilis –

Ursus arctos –

Ursus maritimus –

NOTE: the format: capitals and italics

Levels of Classification (7) or Taxa:

“King Philip Came Over From Germany Swimming”

Example:        HUMAN                  Dandelion

KINGDOMS (6)

1. Eubacteria – cell without a nucleus with rigid cell wall (peptidoglycan)
2. Archabacteria – cell without a nucleus living in harsh conditions
3. Protista – cell with a nucleus
4. Fungi – multi-cellular heterotrophs with a cell wall
5. Plantae – multi-cellular autotrophs
6. Animalia – multi-cellular hetertrophs without a cell wall

Prokaryotic cells – do not have a nucleus

Eukaryotic cells – have a membrane bound nucleus

Phylogeny – history of evolution of organisms (phylogenetic tree)

Dichotomous Key – a two part key used to identify living things