Thus, Homo sapiens literally translates as “human knowing” (or, more simply, “intelligent human,” as stated in Chapter 14). The genus name is generally a noun, while the species modifier is an adjective. For humans, Homo is the genus and sapiens is the species modifier. The name of any species is two words: the name of the genus, followed by the species modifier. For example, humans have the binomial name Homo sapiens. The scientific name of any organism, called the binomial name, has two elements. (The rules of classification apply only to formal scientific names, not to common names.) The rules of classification establish a procedure to be followed when a new species is identified and named. The term “classification” is synonymous with the word “taxonomy.”Īll organisms in the living world are classified and named according to an international system of criteria that dates to the early part of the twentieth century. Despite their complexity, the taxonomic schemes provide considerable insight into the unity and diversity of life. Because the ancestral relationships are complex, the taxonomic schemes are also complex and often the subject of revision. Taxonomists classify organisms in a way xthat reflects their biological ancestry. Darwin’s theory of evolution, which has become a unifying theme in biology, is the organizing principle of modern taxonomy. Darwin’s theory of evolution states that all modern species are derived from earlier species and that all organisms, past and present, share a common ancestry. It has been combined with the work of Charles Darwin in the field of evolution to form the foundation of modern taxonomy. Linnaeus grouped the species according to their reproductive parts and developed the two-part binomial taxonomy system of categorizing organisms according to genus and species. In the mid-1700s, Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish physician and botanist, published several books in which he described thousands of plant and animal species. Biologists called taxonomists have devised a carefully developed scheme to organize these myriad species.

This number is constantly changing, however, as new species are discovered at an outstanding rate. Introduction to Nutrition and DigestionĮarth today is home to more than 8 million different species.

Vascular Plants: Structure and Function.Quiz Domains and Kingdoms of Living Things.Quiz Structure of Prokaryote and Eukaryote Cells.The Structure of Prokaryote and Eukaryote Cells.Quiz Movement through the Plasma Membrane.

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