BIOL 2200 Chapter Notes - Chapter 547-553: Binomial Nomenclature, Branch Point
8 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
We can decide what category to place a species in by comparing its traits with those of potential close relatives. Phylogeny = evolutionary history of a species or group of species. Systematics = discipline focused on classifying organisms and determining their evolutionary relationship. Taxonomy = the scientific discipline in which organisms are named and classified. Binomial nomenclature = two-part latin naming system with each name being unique to a species. Genus = category in which organisms fall into. Specific epithet = unique for each species within a genus. Panthera is the genus, and pardus refers to a leopard. Taxon = named taxonomic unit at any level in the hierarchy. An order of snails does not exhibit the same level of morphological or genetic diversity as an order of mammals. The placement of species in taxa does not determine evolutionary history. Phylogenetic tree = a branching diagram representing the evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
