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Get Full AccessClassification of Living Things

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What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn
- Scientists classify living things based on shared traits.
- Classification helps us understand how living things are related.
- There are 8 levels of organization that scientists use to sort all living things.
- Discussion Questions
Before Video
About how many different living things are on Earth?ANSWERThere are more than 1.6 million identified species, but it is predicted that there are at least 8.7 million, which means we have only identified about 1/5 of all species!
They use a classification system.
Scientists need a way to communicate ideas. It helps ensure that all of one type of organism is known by the same name no matter where it is found.
Physical traits like color, size, hair, skeletal structure, live birth, and so on would be useful.
Some organisms look alike on the outside but are very different on the inside (such as organisms that mimic other organisms). They may look the same, but their DNA is very different.
Scientists who study various living things (such as botanists and zoologists) or a doctor who wants to find out what organism might be causing a disease.
After Video
What is taxonomy?ANSWERTaxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms into groups based on shared traits.
Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species
Bacteria are single-celled organisms without a nucleus. Other single-celled organisms with a nucleus are classified as eukaryotes.
When the system was set up hundreds of years ago, Latin was considered to be the language of science.
Scientific names consist of the genus and species name, which are the most specific categories of taxonomy.
Because all living things have DNA, scientists can compare the DNA of any two organisms to see how similar the DNA code is. The more similarities in DNA, the closer the relationship.
- Vocabulary
- Classify DEFINE
To arrange in categories based on shared characteristics.
- Taxonomy DEFINE
The classification and naming of living things.
- Trait DEFINE
A distinguishing characteristic.
- Dichotomous key DEFINE
A tool used to identify a species by answering a series of questions based on contrasting features that have two possible outcomes.
- Scientific name DEFINE
The taxonomic name of an organism that consists of the genus and species.
- Species DEFINE
A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals that reproduce.
- Eukaryotic cells DEFINE
Cells that contain a nucleus.
- Entomologist DEFINE
A scientist who studies insects.
- Classify DEFINE
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