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The key points covered of this video include:
1. The Need for Classification
2. The Modern Classification System
3. Binomial Naming
The Need for Classification
We have many different species present on the planet. Classifying these species helps us understand their biology and makes identifying new species easier. Classification is the process of sorting living things into groups. In 1735 a scientist named Carl Linnaeus published a hierarchical system that could be used to classify all species.
The Modern Classification System
Carl Linnaeus classified all known organisms into distinct categories with 8 main hierarchical levels. Domain - the highest taxonomic rank which contains three groups: the Eukaryotae, Archaea and Bacteria. Kingdom - there are four eukaryote kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi and Protoctista and another kingdom, the single-celled Prokaryota. Phylum - all organisms are sortd based on their basic body design; e.g. whether they have a backbone. Class - organisms are grouped based on general traits; e.g. number of limbs. Order - a further division based on more specific information; e.g. wolves and cows in the mammalian class. Family - a group of closely related genera; e.g. dogs and cats are divided at the family level. Genus - a group of closely related species; e.g. the hominid genus containing Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Species - the basic unit of classification in this system in which all members show little variation.
Binomial Naming
Using a common name in a global classification system can be difficult due to differencesin language. The binomial naming system solvesthis issue. The binomial naming system uses the genus name and species name to avoid confusion when naming species. So humans are Homo sapiens or H. sapiens because we are the species sapiens in the genus homo. Whenever a new species is named it is given a scientific name based on its classification as well as a common name. This table shows the taxonomic classification for three different species - what are tgeur scientific names?
Summary
Classifying living organisms makes researching them easier and more efficient
Classifying living organisms makes discovering new species much easier
All life can be classified using the hierarchial modern classification system
Species are given a scientific binomial name based on their classification