Presentation On
Taxonomy
Grade:10
Teacher: Ms. Campbell
2021-2022
What is taxonomy?
● Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms.
● Classification is the process of placing things into groups based on their
similarities. These similarities may be physical or observable characteristics,
(such as the presence or absence of wings, presence or absence of
exoskeleton, presence or absence of antenna, presence or absence of a
backbone) behavioural patterns as well as similarities in genetic make up.
Importance of Taxonomy
● We often refer to organisms using their ‘common names’. However, one
organism can have many common names based on which country one is in.
● For example, we all know what we call guinep in Jamaica, but guinep is known
as chenette in Trinidad &Tobago, limoncillo in The Bahamas and ackee in
Barbados. To go a bit further, ackee is a completely different fruit in Jamaica.
We can start to see the confusion with common names and hence the reason for a
standard system of naming organisms. The scientific name for
guinep/chennette/limoncillo/ackee is Melicoccus bijugatus. This name refers to the
same organism irrespective of where in the world you are.
Binomial System
● Each organism has a scientific name in the Latin Binomial System or Binomial
Nomenclature (formal system of naming organisms)
● Bi refers to two and nomial means name. In the Binomial system, each
organism has a formal name made up of two names. The first name is the
Genus name and the second name is the species name.
For example, human beings(common name) belong to the genus called Homo and
the species called sapiens. Therefore, the scientific name for human beings is
Homo sapiens. The genus name is always capitalized and the species name is all
common letters. When typing, the names are in italics and when hand written,
both names are written separately and underlined separately.
Importance of taxonomy
Biological classification allows us to:
● Avoid the confusion associated with common names
● Easily identify new organisms based on its characteristics
● Identify relationships/connections among organisms
● Study organisms as a group instead of individually which is impractical
5 kingdom system of classification
● It is widely agreed in the scientific community that living things are organized
into 5 kingdoms.
● These kingdoms are broad categories and are very inclusive(includes a lot of
organisms).
● Above kingdoms is a much larger category called Domains. The two major
Domains of life are Domain Prokaryota (The prokaryotes) and Domain
Eukaryota(The eukaryotes)
5 kingdoms
The five kingdoms are:
Protists
Animals
Plants
Bacteria
Fungi
Characteristics of Kingdom Prokaryote
● Consist of all bacteria and blue-green algae
● Unicellular organisms that is, single celled organisms
● Cells lack a true nucleus (that is, a membrane –bounded nucleus) so the DNA or
genetic material is found freely in the cell
● Cells lack other membrane-bounded organelles like mitochondria and
chloroplasts
● Most feed by absorbing/taking in food from their environment.
● Cells have a cell wall made of a substance called peptidoglycan also called
murein
Characteristics of kingdom Protoctista
● Members included: Protozoans (animal-like protists) and Algae (plant-like
protists)
● Most are unicellular, some are simple multicellular organisms that lack any
complex development of tissues and organs
● Cells have a true nucleus (surrounded by a membrane) and other membrane-
bounded organelles
● Protozoans are animal-like and ingest(take in) or absorb food from their
environment
● Algae are plant-like, contain chlorophyll and make their own food by
photosynthesis
Characteristics of Kingdom Fungi
● Members include: Yeasts, moulds and mushrooms
● Most are multicellular with a body composed of microscopic threads called
hyphae; while a few are unicellular
● Cells have cell walls that contain a substance called chitin
● Cells lack chlorophyll
● Most reproduce using spores (a small unicellular reproductive unit which can
give rise to a new organism without the need for sexual fusion)
● Feed by absorbing food from their environment
Characteristics of kingdom Plantae
● Multicellular organisms
● Cells have a cell wall made of a substance called cellulose
● Cells contain chlorophyll hence plants can make their own food by
photosynthesis
● Stationary organisms
Characteristics of Kingdom Aimalia(animals)
● Multicellular organisms
● Cells lack cell walls and chlorophyll
● Feed by ingesting(taking in) food
● Most move their whole body from place to place (locomotion)
