Why do scientists classify (p. 43-47)

Biologists group organisms based on similarities.

Classification is the process of grouping things based on their similarities. Biologists use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.

The taxonomy is the study of how living things are classified.

The naming system of Linnaeus: 1750´s the Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus devised a system of naming organisms. This naming system is called binomial nomenclature, binomial means “two names” the first word in an organisms its genus.

A genus is a classification grouping that contains similar closely related organisms.

The second word in a scientific name often describes a distinctive feature of an organism, such its appearance as where it lives. Together, the two words indicated a unique species.

Species is a group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce offsprings that can also mate and reproduce.

HOMEWORK:

What is the correct form to use the nominal nomenclature?

Read Pgs. 42-49.

Copy the figure 11 in page 47.

Biologists today classify organisms into eight levels. The more classification levels that two organisms share, the more characteristics they have in common.

The eight classification levels

· A domain is the highest level of organization

· Within a domain, there are kingdoms

· Within kingdoms there are phyla

· Within phyla are classes

· Within classes are orders

· Within orders are families

· Each family contains one or more genera

· Each genus contains one or more species.