Biological Taxonomy Vocabulary

A kingdom consisting of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that with few exceptions consume organic material, breathe oxygen, have myocytes and are able to move, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a hollow sphere of cells during embryonic development, e.g., Homo sapiens.

A

A domain of single-celled organisms that lack cell nuclei and that have a cell membrane that uses ether linked lipids.

A

A domain of mostly single-celled free-living organisms that lack cell nuclei, and that have a cell membrane that uses ester linked lipids and a cell wall containing peptidoglycan, e.g. Escherichia coli.

B

A formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms.

B

The phylum to which Homo sapiens belongs.

C

A grouping of organisms that includes a common ancestor and all the descendants (living and extinct) of that ancestor.

C

The fourth highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

C

An important scientific tool used to identify different organisms based the organism's observable traits, and consisting of a series of statements with two choices in each step that will lead users to the correct identification.

D

Since 1990, the highest (least specific) major rank in the classification of organisms.

D

An organism whose cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.

E

The sixth highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

F

A kingdom of organisms that have chitin in their cell walls and acquire food by absorbing dissolved molecules; and whose means of mobility are growth and spores, e.g., Penicillium camemberti.

F

The seventh highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

G

The second highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

K

Swedish botanist (1707-1778) who formalized the modern system of naming organisms, and who is known as “the father of modern taxonomy.”

L

The class to which Homo sapiens belongs.

M

The fifth highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

O

The third highest major rank in the classification of organisms.

P

The kingdom containing photosynthetic organisms (and a small number of parasitic organisms that have lost the genes for photosynthesis and chlorophyll).

P

Order to which Homo sapiens belongs.

P

A single-cell organism whose cell lacks a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

P

The process of the formation of a new species, e.g., via evolution.

S

The eighth and lowest (most specific) major rank in the classification of organisms.

S

A minor taxonomic rank used to classify populations of a species that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics, but that can successfully interbreed, even if some male offspring are sterile.

S

A group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit, and usually given a name that is assigned a taxonomic rank.

T