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Taxonomy Definition

Taxonomy is the classification and naming of living things based on shared traits. For example, humans and chimpanzees are grouped under the family Hominidae.

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Classification of Living Things

LESSON MATERIALSmove

Fun Facts

  • Taxonomy divides all living things into three groups, called domains, based on their genetic similarity.
  • Taxonomy uses DNA to distinguish organisms like pill bugs from pill millipedes.
  • Taxonomy helps us understand how living things are related to each other.

Why Do We Need To Know About Taxonomy

Learning about taxonomy helps us understand the variety of life and why it’s important to put living things into groups. People like plant and animal scientists and doctors use taxonomy to study living things and figure out diseases. This system makes it easier to identify and group organisms by their similar traits, which helps us know their roles in nature and in medical studies.

Taxonomy is also key in finding new species, like those discovered in the ocean by scientists studying sea life. Using DNA to classify organisms helps us place them accurately in the tree of life. This means we can find new species and update our grouping systems with new knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms into groups based on shared traits.
What are the eight levels of organization used for classifying all living things?
Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
What trait is used to classify bacteria as their own domain?
Bacteria are single-celled organisms without a nucleus. Other single-celled organisms with a nucleus are classified as eukaryotes.
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