Classification

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Classification
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In order to make their job easier, scientists
classify living things into groups, based on how
they are the same, and how they are different.
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What is Classification?
Classification arranges objects, ideas, or
information into groups by finding common
traits or characteristics.
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The Science of Classification
Scientist who classify or organize organisms
(animals and plants) are called taxonomists.
Taxonomists study taxonomy.
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The History of Organization

Aristotle 384-322 BC Interested in biological
classification. Patterns in nature.
Carl Linnaeus 1707-1778 ACE Father ofBiological
Classification!
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Binomial Nomenclature

• Two-word naming system
• Genus
• Noun, Capitalized, Underlined or Italicized
• Specific epithet
• Descriptive, Lower Case, Underlined or Italicized
• Together they are the species name.
• Without the genus name, the specific epithet is
  meaningless

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Common name Robin

• Erithacus rubicula
• Turdus migratorus

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Common name Black and Polar Bear

• Ursus americanus
• Ursus maritimus

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Why not use common names?

• Scientists avoid using common names because they
  are often not specific to a particular species
  and can be confusing.

• Different countries (and different regions within
  countries) have different common names for the
  same organisms

• Common names such as blue crab, redfish, and
  dolphin are successfully used in casual
  communication, and convey an immediate idea of
  what a particular animal or plant looks like.

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Groups are also arranged in hierarchical order.
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Hierarchical Classification

• Taxonomic categories
• Domain (big) Dear
• Kingdom King
• Phylum Philip
• Class Came
• Order Over
• Family For
• Genus Good
• Species (small) Soup

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What are Dichotomous Keys?

• a method for determining the identity of
  something (like the name of a butterfly, a plant,
  a lichen, or a rock) by going through a series of
  choices that leads the user to the correct name
  of the item.
• Dichotomous means "divided in two parts".

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Using a dichotomous key

• At each step of the process of using the key, the
  user is given two choices each alternative leads
  to another question until the item is identified.
  
• 1a. If the leaves are flat.go to question 4.
• 1b. If the leaves are needle-like.go to
  question 2.
• 2a. Are the needles in a bunch? Go to question
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• 2b. Are they spread along the branch?pine tree
• Eventually, when enough questions have been
  answered, the identity of the tree is revealed.

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Alien Dichotomous Key

• Work individually to complete the Alien
  Dichotomous key
• We will do the first one together.
• WHEN DONE HOLD ON TO YOUR PAPER WE WILL DO MORE

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On the backCreate your own dichotomous key

• Create a dichotomous key to identify 2 people in
  this classroom, using questions based on gender,
  hair length/color, glasses (or not), clothing
  color, etc.
• 1a. Is this person male? Go to question 2.
• 1b. Is this person female? Go to question 3.

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Turn in papers to your class box!!

• Obtain a copy of your homework and start working
  on it till Ms. Hodges Calls for time!
• DO NOT PACK UP EARLY!!!!
• Vocab Quiz tomorrow!!!!!!!

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• Quiz tomorrow!!!!!!!

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• Start by observing the group of things to be used
  in the key.
• List the most general traits that can be used to
  divide the organisms into categories.
• create a series of numbered steps with the first
  step showing the first characteristic you used.
  At each step, offer two choices for classifying
  the beetle based on a single characteristic.
• There should be one less step than the total
  number of organism to be identified in your
  dichotomous key.