The document discusses the classification and naming of organisms. It explains that classification involves grouping organisms into hierarchical categories from the broadest kingdom level down to species. There are five kingdoms, and each level below kingdom is further divided into more specific groups. The document also describes how Carolus Linnaeus developed the system of binomial nomenclature in 1735, in which each species is assigned a unique two-part scientific name consisting of its genus and specific epithet. This standardized naming system helps avoid confusion that can arise from varying common names.

2. Classifying organisms
 Classification means
putting things into groups
according to similarities
 Kingdom: largest group

3. There are five kingdoms:
1. Bacteria kingdom (Monera or Prokaryota
kingdom)
2. Protist kingdom
3. Fungi kingdom
4. Plant kingdom
5. Animal kingdom

5. Each
kingdom is
divided into
smaller
groups
Panthera
pardus

6.  Species – organisms that look alike and
successfully interbreed
 Genus – A group of similar species which that
have similar features and are closely related
 Family – A group of similar genera
 Order – A group of similar families
 Class – A group of similar orders
 Phylum – A group of similar classes
 Kingdom – A group of similar phyla

7. Carolus Linnaeus invented a system
to name organisms in 1735
 was a Swedish scientist

8. Each name consists of:
 TWO parts:
 the first part of the name is the genus
 the second is the species
 this method of naming organisms is called
binomial nomenclature
 the names are written in:
 Latin or
 have Latin endings

9. Examples of scientific names:
 human being :
Homo sapiens
genus species
 housefly:
Musca domestica
genus species

10. Binomial Nomenclature - Rules
1. First letter of first word (genus) is
always capitalised
2. First letter of second word (species) is
not capitalised
3. Both words are written in italicis or
both words are underlined
Homo sapiens Homo sapiens
DO NOT underline space between words!!!

11. Question:
Which one of these is the closest relative
of Felis concolor?
 Acer rubrum
 Contopus pertinax
 Felis tigris
 Ficus carica

12. Question:
Which one of these is the closest relative
of Felis concolor?
 Acer rubrum
 Contopus pertinax
 Felis tigris
 Ficus carica

13. This is what the following Felis tigris
have in common:
 Class
 Family
 Genus
 Species
Felis leo Felis domestica

14. This is what the following Felis tigris
have in common:
 Class
 Family
 Genus
 Species
Felis leo Felis domestica

15. The importance of writing scientific
names:
Common names vary from:
 region to region
 language to language
Problem with this is:
it is hard to know what people are
talking about.

16. The importance
of writing
scientific names:
This is a reindeer.
This is a caribou.
Caribou & reindeer
are the same thing.

17. The importance
of writing
scientific names:
This is a Rangifer tarandus.
Yes, I know.
We refer to the
same thing!!

18. The importance of writing scientific
names:
1. Every species can be unambiguously
identified by two names.
2. The same name can be used all over the
world, in all languages, avoiding difficulties
of translation.

19. Question: MAY, 2012
Comment on the biological significance of each
of the following statements.
Classification systems are used to give scientific
names. (4)

20. Question: SEP, 2012
Give ONE advantage of giving scientific names to
living organisms. (2)
The use of scientific names eliminates confusion
between nationalities that may have different
common names for organisms by assigning them a
universal name that acts as a code. Scientists from
one nation can converse with scientists from
another about a specific organism with the aid of
the scientific name, avoiding confusion that may
arise from differing common names.

21. THE END