The Classification of Living Things

There are millions of species of organisms on Earth. A species is a group of organisms with similar
characteristics, that are capable of interbreeding to produce viable, fertile offspring. These species
can be classified into different groups.
The classification of living things refers to the process of arranging living things into groups based on
similarities and differences. This means that organisms that share similar features are placed in one
group.
Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying living organisms. A taxonomist is a person who
studies taxonomy.
How Organisms are Classified
Organisms share features because they originally descend from a common ancestor.
For example: all mammals have bodies covered in hair, feed young from mammary glands and have
external ears.
Originally, organisms were classified using morphology (the overall form and shape of the organism,
e.g. whether it had wings or legs) and anatomy (the detailed body structure as determined by
dissection)
As technology advanced, microscopes, knowledge of biochemistry and eventually DNA sequencing
allowed us to classify organisms using a more scientific approach.
The Hierarchical System of Classification

• All modern classification systems were derived from the Linnaean Classification system
designed by a Swedish Botanist named Carl Linnaeus.
• He placed organisms in 8 groups called taxa (singular, taxon):
• DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies
• There are 3 domains: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukaryota
• Each domain is split into kingdoms. There are six main kingdoms: archaea, bacteria,
protists, fungi, plants and animals)
• Each kingdom is split into different phylum
• Each phylum is split into different classes
• Each class is split into different orders
• Each order is split into different families
• Each family is split into different genus.
• Each genus is split into different species.
The Classification of Living Things
 The Classification of Living Things

Binomial Nomenclature

• All living organisms are given a two-part Latin name called the binomial name.
• The binomial name consists of a genus name and species name.
• The genus name is always written first, and the first letter is always Capitalized.
• The species name follows the genus name and is written in common.
• The scientific name is always written in italics. If it cannot be italicized, it must be
underlined.
• Eg. Homo sapiens or Homo sapiens
Common name: These are used locally and may vary by region or country.
Scientific name: These are unique names used by the scientific community to accurately and
universally identify species.
Eryngium foetidum is also known as shadow beni, and bhandhania in Trinidad is also called fitweed
in Guyana.
Three Domains-Six Kingdoms
Organisms are classified into 3 domains based on their cellular structure:

• Archaea
Prokaryotes
• Bacteria
• Eukaryota
Prokaryotic organisms: organisms whose cells lack a defined nucleus
Eukaryotes: organisms, including plants and animals, whose cells contain a defined nucleus
 The Classification of Living Things

1. Domain/Kingdom Archaea
Archaea are thought to be the oldest form of life found on earth. Archaea are single-celled
microorganisms with structure similar to bacteria. They were called extremophile because they live
in extreme environments, such as hydrothermal vents and terrestrial hot springs. They were also
found in a wide range of highly saline (salty), acidic, and anaerobic (no oxygen) environments.

Group Conditions Lives in

Extremely hot temperatures Sea volcanic vents
Extreme thermophiles
(90-110°C) Hot springs
Extreme Halophiles Great Salt Lake
Extremely salty environments
Dead Sea
Methanogens Anaerobic environments Swamps
Methane rich environments Termite and cow guts
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents

2. Domain/Kingdom Bacteria

• The bacteria are the group of single celled, microorganisms that we encounter every day.

• They are found in environments such as soil, dust, water, air, or on/in animals, plants and
humans.

• Some bacteria are beneficial to humans and the environment; however, many are harmful and
cause a wide range of diseases in humans, plants and animals.

3. Domain Eukarya

Kingdom Protista/Protoctista

• You can think about protists as all eukaryotic organisms that are neither animals, nor plants, nor
fungi.
• These unique organisms can be so different from each other that sometimes Protista is called the
“junk drawer" kingdom.
• Just like a junk drawer, which contains items that don't fit into any other category, this kingdom
contains the eukaryotes that cannot be put into any other kingdom.
• Most of the protists live in water, some in moist soil or even the body of human and plants.
• Some protists are pathogens of both animals and plants. Example: Plasmodium falciparum causes
malaria in humans.
• Kingdom Protista are categorized into three different groups:
 The Classification of Living Things

o Protozoans - animal-like, single-celled organisms. Eg. Amoeba

o Algae - plant-like, single or multi-celled organisms. Eg. Sargassum
o Fungus-like - slime molds

Kingdom Fungi

• The fungi are group of eukaryotes that includes organisms such as mushrooms, yeasts,
molds, rusts, smuts, puffballs and morels.
• They are not plants nor animals.
• Fungi can be found in air, in water, on land, in soil, and on or in plants and animals.
• They vary in size from microscopic to large structures that extend for more than a thousand
acres.
• While many fungi may look like plants, they are not. Fungi do not photosynthesize, nor are
they autotrophs.
Fungi can be classified according to their what they feed on:

o Saprophytic-lives on dead or decaying organic matter.

o Parasitic- grow on organic matter of living organisms
o Symbiont- mutualistic relationship between fungi and other organisms in which both
benefits
The Classification of Living Things