Taxonomy

Exercise 1 was about classification. We learned about taxonomy, the classification of organisms, and the Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, who discovered natural groupings among living beings. Carl Linnaeus is the father of modern taxonomy. Modern taxonomy assigns specific names to different groups of organisms. When classifying an organism, we first start by identifying an organism's kingdom, then phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. All plants and animals have a taxonomic classification.

In class, we did 3 different exercises to enhance our knowledge about classification. We got in groups and divided a set of cards that were of animals, plants, and mechanisms. We then studied their similarities and differences, and then made charts that identified their taxonomy. The construction of a dichotomous key, which divided each group into sub groups, was also completed. For example, one could break animals down to vertebrae's and non-vertebrae's, and then to wings and no wings, etc.

English:

Carl von Linné, Alexander Roslin, 1775. Oil paint...

Table of the Animal Kingdom ("Regnum Animale") fro...

At the end of the lab we answered classification questions about specific animals and their kingdom, phylum, class, etc. This lab has further intrigued my knowledge of classifying organisms.