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Biology
WCHS Biology Chapter 17
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| Classification | grouping of objects or information based on similiarities |
| Taxonomy | branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on studies of their shared characteristics; biologists who study taxonomy are called taxonomists |
| Bionomial Nomenclature | two-word system developed by Carolus Linnaeus to name species; first word identifies the genus of the organism, the second word is often a descripitive word that describes a characteristic of the organism |
| Genus | first word of a two-part scientific name used to identify a group of similiar species |
| Specific Epithet | the second word of a species name |
| Family | the next larger taxon in the biological classification system, consists of a group of similiar genera |
| Order | taxonomic grouping of similiar families |
| Class | taxonomic grouping of similiar orders |
| Phylum | taxonomic groupings of similiar classes |
| Division | taxonomic grouping of similiar classes; term used instead of phyla by plant taxonomists |
| Kingdom | taxonomic grouping of similiar phyla or divisions |
| Phylogeny | evolutionary history of a species based on comparative relationships of structures and comparisons of modern life forms with fossils |
| Cladistics | biological classification systems based on phylogeny; assumes that as groups of organisms diverge and evolve from a common ancestral group, they retain derived traits |
| Cladogram | branching diagram that models the phylogeny of a species based on the derived traits of a group of organisms |
| Eubacteria | group of prokaryotes with strong cell walls and a variety of structures, may be autrotrophs (chemosynthetic or photosynthetic) or heterotrophs |
| Protist | diverse group of multiullular eukaryotes that lack complex organ systems and live in moist environments; may be autotrophic or heterotrophic |
| Fungus | group of unicellular or multicellular heterotrophic eukaryotes that do not move from place to place; absorb nutrients from organic materials in the environment |