Classification of living organisms

Learning Objectives: Students should be able to:

1. Classify organisms into taxonomic groups
based on physical similarities
2. List the five kingdoms that living things may be
classified into
3. Explain why viruses are placed in a group by
themselves.
 Classification of living things is called "Taxonomy"

Taxonomy (from Greek word: taxis,

„arrangement,‟ and nomia, „method‟) is
the science of defining groups of
biological organisms on the basis of
shared characteristics and giving names to
those groups
 The father of modern taxonomy

Carolus Linnaeus (mid-1700’)s was a Swedish biologist

who established a simple system for classifying and
naming organisms.
He developed a Hierarchy (a ranking system) for
classifying organisms that is the Basis for Modern
Taxonomy.
For this reason, he is considered to be “father” of
modern taxonomy.
 Taxonomic Hierarchy
What is hierarchy in taxonomy?
Hierarchy refers to the taxonomic
classification of living organisms in
successive levels of complexity. The
highest rank in such a classification
“Kingdom” while “species” is the lowest.
 Modern Taxonomic Hierarchy
Levels of Organization

 Linnaeus used an organisms

morphology (form and structure), to
categorize it. Morphology of organisms
refer to its size, shape, and structure.
 His system allowed organisms to be
grouped with similar organisms.
 Modern Taxonomic Hierarchy
Seven Levels of Organization
 Modern System:

◦ Each kingdom (plant and animal) – largest group – few traits in

common
◦ Each phylum into a smaller groups called class.
◦ Each class was divided into an order.
◦ Each order was divided into family (families).
◦ Each family was divided into a genus (plural-genera)
◦ Each genus was divided into a species. (scientific name)
◦ Species – smallest group – more traits in common
*Note: Phyla and family were not in Linnaeus’s classification system
but were added by modern scientists.
 Levels of Classification

 Remember: King Philip Came Over For

Grandma’s Soup.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
 Levels of Classification

Species – This is the basic category of classification. A

species is a group of organisms of common ancestry

that closely resemble each other and are normally

capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

 Levels of Classification

Genus (singular) genera (plural) – Closely related

species are grouped into genera.

Family – Related genera are grouped into families

Order – Related families are grouped into order

Class – Related order are grouped into class, class

into phyla and phyla are grouped into kingdoms.
Classification Hierarchy
of Organisms
Classification of
Modern
Humans
Classification of cheetah
 Modern Taxonomists

 Taxonomists split species into subsets called

varieties.
 Zoologists refer to variations of a species that
occur in different geographic areas called
subspecies.
 To classify organisms, modern taxonomist
consider the phylogeny (evolutionary history) of
the organism.
 Additional Levels of Organization

 Botanist sometimes split

species into subsets known
as VARIETIES.
◦ Peaches and nectarines are
a different variety of the
peach tree, Prunus persica

peach
 Binomial Nomenclature

 Names were based on Latin or Ancient Greek words - scientist

everywhere understood these languages.
 The FIRST word of the Scientific Name (Species Name) is the
name of the genus to which the organism belongs.
 The Genus name refers to the relatively small group of organisms to which a
particular type of organism belongs.

 The SECOND word of the name is the species. (Species

identifier)
 The Species name is usually a Latin description of some important characteristic
of the organism.
 Binomial Nomenclature:
Rules for Writing Scientific Names
 When we use the Latin name for an organism, we ALWAYS
capitalize the Genus (first part) but NOT the species identifier
(second part).
 We also print the name in Italics or Underline them. For
example:
 Acer rubrum (scientific name) - red maple tree (common name) or Acer rubrum
Acer is the Latin name for Maple (genus)
rubrum is the Latin word for Red (species)
 OR the name can be abbreviated as: A. rubrum
 Humans are named: Homo sapiens
 Homo because of our large brain and upright posture.
 sapiens because of our intelligence and ability to speak.
 Classification of living organisms

Organisms are classified into five kingdoms:

1. Prokaryotes
2. Protoctists
3. Fungi
4. Plants
5. Animals
 Organization of cell structure
Prokaryotic Cells
Prokaryotes (bacteria and blue green algae) are
unicellular organisms that lack organelles or other
internal membrane-bound structures. Therefore, they
do not have a nucleus, but, instead, generally have a
single chromosome: a piece of circular, double-
stranded DNA located in an area of the cell called the
nucleoid
 Organization of cell structure

Eukaryotic cell
Eukaryotic cells are cells that contain a
nucleus and organelles, and are enclosed by a
membrane. Organisms that have eukaryotic
cells include protoctits, fungi, plants and
animals can be single-celled or multicellular
 Prokaryote kingdom
Include bacteria(tuberculosis (TB) bacterium) and blue-
green algae
 Unicellular organisms
 Cells have a cell wall
 Cells lack a true nucleus, the DNA is free in the cell.
 Cells lack other membrane-bound organelles, e.g.
mitochondria, chloroplast
 Most feed by absorbing food.
 Protoctist Kingdom
Include protozoa and algae (amoeba, paramecium, Euglena,
Sargassum (seaweed)
 Most are unicellular, some are simple multicellular organisms
without any complex development of tissues and organs.
 Cells have a true nucleus surrounded by a membrane and other
membrane bound organelles
 Protozoans are animal-like and ingest food or absorb food.
 Algae are plant-like, contain chlorophyll and make their own
food by photosynthesis.
Protoctist Kingdom

Amoeba

algae

Euglena
 KINGDOM FUNGI

Include yeasts, moulds and mushrooms

 Most are multicellular with a body composed of
microscopic thread called hyphae, a few are unicellular.
 Cells have cell walls and contain chitin.
 Cells lack chlorophyll
 Most reproduce by spores
 Feed by absorbing food
 KINGDOM PLANT

 Multicellular organisms
 Cells have cell wall made of cellulose
 Cells contain chlorophyll
 Make their own food by photosynthesis
 Stationary organisms
 Animal kingdom

 Multicellular organisms
 Cells lack cell wall and chlorophyll
 Feed by ingesting food
 Most move their whole body from
place to place.
 Justify why many scientists group viruses in a
category separate from living things.
 Smaller than bacteria and fungi
 Are not cells
 Are particles made up of genetic materials (DNA) or (RNA)
surrounded by a protein coat
 All are parasites
 Only carryout the characteristic of life when inside its host

Example: HIV
 Examples of Viruses

Flu virus HIV virus

How a Virus Invades a Cell
 Closing questions
1. What makes members of the kingdom
Prokaryotes different from the members of the
other four kingdoms?
2. Name the other four kingdoms in which
organisms can be classified.
3. State three differences between plants and
animals.
4. What is a species?