Taxonomy
The scientific study of how living things are classified
Domain
A taxonomic category above the kingdom level. The three types are Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya.
Kingdom
in classification, a group of closely related phyla
Phylum
in classification, a group of closely related classes
Class
in classification, a group of closely related orders
Order
in classification, a group of closely related families
Family
in classification, group of similar genera
Genus
A classification grouping that consists of a number of similar, closely related species
Species
A classification grouping of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Binominal nomenclature
two-word naming system that gives all organisms their scientific name by using the genus and species
Archaebacteria
A Kingdom of bacteria that lives in extreme environments. Means "Ancient Bacteria
Eubacteria
A kingdom that contains all prokaryotes EXCEPT those that live in a harsh environment; these are called the true bacteria
Protista
Kingdom composed of eukaryotes that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi
Fungi
Kingdom composed of heterotrophs; many obtain energy and nutrients from dead organic matter
Plantae
Kingdom of multicellular photosynthetic autotrophs that have cell walls containing cellulose
Animalia
Kingdom made up of complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls, can usually move around, and quickly respond to their environment.
Virus
A tiny, nonliving particle that invades and then reproduces inside a living cell.
Natural Selection
A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
survival of the fittest
Process by which individuals that are better suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully
Evolution
Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.
Fossils
Preserved remains of once-living organisms
homologous structures
similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor
analogous structures
structures that do not have a common evolutionary origin but are similar in function
vestigal structure
parts of an organism that are no longer functioning and do not affect survival
adaptation
A characteristic that improves an individual's ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment.
Cladogram
A diagram that is based on patterns of shared, derived traits and that shows the evolutionary relationships between groups of organisms
derived characteristics
Characteristic that appears in recent parts of a lineage, but not in its older members