Taxonomy & Evolution

BIOLOGY 22 LECTURE
Anna Theresa A. Santiago, MPH 1
 Lecture Content

 Taxonomy
 Binomial System
 3-Domain/ 5-Kingdom System
 Evolution

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 Taxonomy = Systematics
…Identification and nomenclature

 Identification: characterize to determine

species

 Nomenclature: naming

 Classification: ordering into groups based on

common properties
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Significance of Taxonomy
 Local names often differ greatly from place to
place

 Provides a standard and precise way of

communicating about organisms

 Permits biologists to clarify evolutionary

relationships
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 Terms:
 Phylogeny– evolutionary history of a group of
organisms
 Phylogenetic tree – a branching diagram that
indicates common ancestors and lines of descent
 Primitive character – trait that is present in a
common ancestor and all members of a group/
plesiomorphy
 Derived character – present only in a specific
lineage and is not present in a common ancestor/
apomorphy
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Synapomorphy 6
The Binomial System of
Nomenclature (Linnaean system)
 2-name system introduced by Karl von
Linne, a Swedish biologist in the mid-
eighteenth century
 Scientific name consists of two Latinized
words:
 Generic + Species name
 e.g. Rana pipiens or Rana pipiens

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The 3-Domain/5-Kingdom System
 Cladistic analysis and molecular data have
been pointing out problems in the 5-kingdom
scheme
 New data suggest two lineages in
prokaryotes; resulting in 3 domains:
 Bacteria
 Archaebacteria
 Eukaryota

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Whittaker’s 5-kingdom Scheme

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Evolution

Over long periods of time

there have
been major changes in the
kinds of
organisms that have
dominated life
on Earth. 11
 Our place in nature…
The Darwinian revolution forced people
to face the fact that humans are
part of nature, not above nature.
nature
Nevertheless, anthropologists
struggled with explaining the special
features of Homo sapiens, such as our
great intelligence, our sense of
right and wrong, our esthetic
sensibilities. Only since the latter
part of the twentieth century have 12
The Intellectual Revolutions

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Darwin’s Evolution by Natural Selection
(The Origin of the Species)
 All living species are descended from a small
set of common ancestors – perhaps just one
 Variation within a species occurs randomly
(this will determine survival)

This process can be applied to Man

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Mixed Reactions towards Darwin
 Famous debate between Thomas H. Huxley
(pro) and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce (anti)

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As to Darwin’s feelings…

I see no good reason why

the views given in this
volume (The Origin of the
Species) should shock the
religious feelings of As to Darwin’s
anyone…There is religious
grandeur in this view of beliefs, he
life…having been didn’t make it
originally breathed by the quite clear
Creator…from so simple a
beginning, endless forms 20

most beautiful and most

 Key concepts of evolution
 Fossil record documents the
history of life on Earth is the
evidence of evolution

 The release of oxygen by

photosynthetic organisms led to
the development of eukaryotes
and then multicellular organisms

 There was a rise and fall of major

taxonomic groups due to
continental drifts, mass
extinctions and evolutionary
radiations 21
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Mockery Acceptance
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Francis Collins (HGP) says…
No serious biologist today
doubts the theory of
evolution to explain the
marvelous complexity
and diversity of life. In
fact, the relatedness of
all species through the
mechanism of evolution
is such a profound
foundation for the
understanding of all 27
Quiz Next Meeting

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