Genetic variation, as well as changes in the environment, cause characteristics of organisms to change over time. This process of natural selection leads to the evolution of new species.
Living organisms are classified into groups depending on their characteristics. This system was developed in the 18th century by Carl Linnaeus.
The classification of species allows the subdivision of living organisms into smaller and more specialised groups.
The first division of living things in the classification system is to put them into one of five kingdoms.
The five kingdoms are:
Living things can then be ranked according to:
Phyla follow kingdoms and have many different organisms. The animal kingdom includes the three examples below:
Class is an additional sub-division, which, for example, results in the chordata phylum being divided into:
Order follows class and, as an example, mammals can be further sub-divided into a variety of different groups such as:
Orders are broken down into families. Here are a few examples of families that carnivores can be divided into:
Genus follows on from family. The felidae family can be sub-divided into four genus examples:
Species is the final classification stage, and the genus panthera can be divided into:
As an example, the complete breakdown of the classification of lions:
There are many ways to remember this order, for example using the mnemonic:
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The binomial system of naming species uses Latin words. Each name has two parts, the genus and the species. Bi- means two, for example a bicycle has two wheels. Nom means name. Therefore binomial means ‘two name’.
Human beings belong to the genus Homo, and our species is sapiens - so the scientific binomial name is Homo sapiens.
The binomial system is important because it allows scientists to accurately identify individual species across the world without needing to know the scientist’s home language. The grouping of families was added to allow the large number of new species to be included in this system. Linnaeus’ original ideas have been adapted, but continue to be accepted and as new species are identified they can be fitted into the current classification system.
Originally, Linnaeus couldn’t distinguish between different types of organisms such as algae, lichens, fungi, mosses and ferns. The inability to examine such organisms in detail made classifying these organisms as different species difficult at that time.
As more scientific equipment - such as microscopes with higher magnification - became available, it allowed scientists to examine organisms in more detail and note important features, such as the identification of sex organs. This allowed more divisions in the classification system to be created. The advancement of technology further helped to develop Linnaeus’ classification system.