BIOL108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Linnaean Taxonomy, Paraphyly, Divergent Evolution

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Biology (Biological Sciences)
• Course: BIOL108
• Professor: Richard Moses

Document Summary

Classify and group species using hierarchical categories based on similarity or common ancestry. Remember: dumb kings play chess on fine green sand: homo(genus) sapiens (specific epithet) Binomials are standardised and updated by international organisations: classifying organisms. Species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain. Linnaean classification system was based on limited set of observed similarities only. Modern classification is entirely based on common ancestry. Phylogeny describes the evolutionary relationship of a bunch of different organisms. Clade (research) is the ancestor at any node and everything above or beyond it. Polytomy usually indicate lack of information and understanding. Goal of modern classification: organise species into groups united by common. Taxon (plural: taxa): named group at any level of classification. The only acceptable group is a monophylectic group (clade): contains common ancestor and all descendants. Paraphyletic group: excludes some descendants of ancestors, usually make mistakes because some descendants appear different from other members of clade.