2. What is the modern classification used by
biologists ?
Taxonomy .
3. How are organism classified?
What is the basis of classification?
Living organisms are classified based on their basic characteristics and in each group, they are then
divided into smaller groups such as their kingdom, phylum, classes, families and species.
The kingdom a grouping based on how the organism how they obtain their food, the types of cells
that make up their body, and the number of cells they contain.
The phylum is based on their physical similarities and these physical similarities suggest that there is
a common ancestry among those organisms in a particular phylum.
The classes are like mammals, reptile, birds. E.g of mammals will be platypus and reptile would be
legless lizard.
Order would be based on the taxonomy key as a checklist to determine how they are grouped
together
Species the main criterion for an organism to be placed in a particular species is the ability to breed
with other organisms of that same species.
4. How did the modern classification system come about?
Who were the biologists who contributed to this area of
study?
-The system came about in the 1758 but changes were
made in the 1960’s.
-Contributor to biodiversity classification system was
Carolus Linnaeus.
5. What other key characteristics are there to describe the modern
classification system?
One characteristic to describe the modern classification system is the
Taxonomy Key.The value of a classification system is that it allows biologists to
discern relationships between different organisms.
Methods to classify them are
1. Species
2. Genus
3. Family
4. Order
5. Class
6. Phylum
7. Kingdom
