Asslamoalaikum here is an overview about systematics and its link with taxonomy. contact for copyright.

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Systematics vs Taxonomy
BY: MUHAMMAD MOHSIN(BS HONS.Zoology)
Contents:
1- Systematics vs taxonomy
2- Types of systematics
numerical systematics
biochemical systematics
experimental systematics
3- Contributions of systematics to biology
evolution
ecology
molecular biology
applied biology
theoretical biology
1- Systematics vs Taxonomy.
Systematics is the study of diversification of living forms and, both past and present, and the relationships
among living things through time.Taxonomy refers to the science of naming, describing, and classifying
organisms. It involves creating a hierarchical system of categories based on shared characteristics and
evolutionary relationships.
Systematics encompass taxonomy but also include the study of evolutionary history, genetics and ecology.
While taxonomy and systematics are closely related, they are not interchangeable terms. Taxonomy is
concerned with the naming and classification of organisms, while systematics is more focused on
understanding the relationships between them. Both are essential for understanding the diversity of life on
Earth and how different species are related to one another.It involves grouping organisms into categories or
taxa, based on similarities and differences in their physical and genetic traits. Taxonomy provides a systematic
way of organizing and cataloging the diversity of life on Earth, making it easier for scientists to study
evolutionary relationships between different species.
2- Types of systematics.
The new systematics may be divided into following branches:
Numerical Systematics.
This type of systematics is based on bio-statistical method in identification and classification of animals.
This branch is called biometry.
Biochemical systematics.

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This branch of systematics deals with classification of animals on the basis of biochemical analysis of
protoplasm. It involves the analysis of DNA, RNA and other protoplasmic compoonents.
Experimental Sytematics.
This branch of systematics deals with identification of various evolutionary units within a species and
their role in the process of evolution. Here mutation is considered as evolutionary unit.
3- Contribution of systematics to biology.
Systematic classification is a powerful tool in biology, which has contributed significantly to the understanding
and organization. Systematics has contributed significantly to the development of modern biological science
in several ways:
Evolution.
In early ages, when the genetic approach was not there to study the evolution, the evolutionary study was
entirely carried out by taxonomists. From Lamarck and Darwin on nearly all leading evolutionists were
practicing systematics. Scientists unravel the patterns of species relationships and the processes that cause the
evolution of new species in a variety of animal groups. By identifying the drivers of those diversification
processes, scientists can estimate the dates when these events occurred using an evolutionary framework.
Systematics play a vital role than any other branch of the biology in understanding the evolution.
Ecology.
The realtionship between systematic and ecology is symbiotic. Systematics provide foundation by identifying,
classifying, and understanding evolutionary realtionships among different species. This phylogenetic
framework established by systematics serves as a crucial tool for ecologists.
Ecology in turn utilizes systematic knowledge to investigate the ecological roles, interactions and adaptations
of organisms within their environments. The classification of species help ecologists recognize patterns and
connections between different organisms, facilitating a deeper understanding of ecosystems.
Molecular biology.
Molecular biology techniques such as DNA sequencing have revolultionized the way sytematic biologists infer
evolutionary relationships among species. Compairing the DNA sequence in various species for a specific
gene help to construct the phylogenetic trees that give clear relationship between various organisms. This
approach help to reveal the relationships that are not apparent on morphological characters. It gives the key
information about the evolution of the biological molecules.
Applied biology.
Systematics also contributes to applied sciences such as medicine, public health, agriculture, conservation and
management of natural resources. Taxonomic details about a specie have given vital information for solving
problems in economic entomology. The taxonomic background of any virus or pest or any other pathogen
that is dirupting the human give the background information to control over a specific pest or pathogen. In

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pharmaceutical fields it help to study the reltionship of a pathogen with the previous pathogens of same type
and develop the medicine. In agricultural field it helps to enhance the pest resistant quality of the crops by
incorporating the genetic engineering techniques along with the systematics.
Theoretical biology.
The multiple role of taxonomy in biology can be summarized as follows:
1. It works out for us a vivid picture of the existing organic diversity of our earth and is the only science
that does so. The Science of Taxonomy 9
2. It provides much of the information permitting a reconstruction of the phylogeny of life.
3. It reveals numerous interesting evolutionary phenomena and thus makes them available for causal
study by other branches of biology.
4. It supplies, almost exclusively, the information needed for entire branches of biology (e.g.
biogeography).
5. It supplies classifications which are of great heuristic and explanatory value in most branches of
biology, e.g., evolutionary biochemistry, im¬ munology, ecology, genetics, ethology, historical geology.
6. It is indispensable in the study of economically or medically important organisms.
7. In the hands of its foremost exponents it makes important conceptual contributions (such as
population thinking), not otherwise so easily acces¬ sible to experimental biologists. Thus it contributes
significantly to a broadening of biology and to a better balance within biological science as a whole.