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Classification Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Binomial Nemenclature | The system of naming organisms scientifically, developed by Carolus Linnaeus; consists of the genus and species name. |
| 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 (ancestries) | 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 cell. |
| Multicellular | Composed of more than one cell. |
| Heterotrophic (heterotroph) | An organism that must consume other organisms for energy. |
| Autotroph (autotrophic) | An organism that obtains its energy from an abiotic source such as sunlight or inorganic materials. |
| Chemotrophic (chemotroph) | 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. |