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Classification
Classification for Biology (8th grade)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Binomial Nomenclature | The system of naming organisms scientifically, developed by Carolus Linnaeus; consists of the genus and species names |
| Kingdom | The highest level of taxonomic classification beneath that of the three domains |
| Phylum | The taxonomic level below kingdom and above class |
| Class | The taxonomic level below phylum and above order |
| Order | The taxonomic level below class and above family |
| Family | The taxonomic level below order and above genus |
| Genus | The taxonomic level below the family and above the species; the first part of the binomial nomenclature |
| Species | A group of organisms that can interbreed to generate fertile offspring |
| Cladogram | A branching diagram representing a hypothesis about the evolutionary descent of groups of organisms from a common ancestor |
| Dichotomous Key | A tool used to classify an organism through a series of questions with only two possible answers |
| Ancestry | The lineage of successive parents and offspring that leads to an organism or species |
| Cladistics | A classification system based on shared characteristics between groups of organisms and their common ancestor |
| Unicellular | Composed of a single organism |
| Multicellular | Composed of more than one cell |
| Heterotrophic | An organism that must consume other organisms for energy |
| Autotrophic | An organism that obtains its energy from an abiotic source such as sunlight or inorganic chemicals |
| Chemotrophic | An organism that can produce its own nourishment through the process of oxidizing inorganic compounds |
| Eukaryotic Cell | A cell with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles |
| Prokaryotic Cell | A cell lacking a nucleus or any other membrane-enclosed organelle |
| Sexual Reproduction | The reproductive process involving two parents whose genetic material is combined to produce a new organism different from themselves |
| Asexual Reproduction | A method of reproduction that requires only one parent and produces offspring identical to the parent |
| Phylogeny | The evolutionary development of a species |