There are millions of kinds of living things. Scientists sort them into groups. They group them by the features they share. This sorting is called classific...
Question 1 Report
There are millions of kinds of living things. Scientists sort them into groups. They group them by the features they share. This sorting is called classification. It helps scientists to study the organisms. It also shows how they may be related. The largest groups are the kingdoms. There is an animal kingdom and a plant kingdom. Each kingdom is split into smaller groups. This goes on until each single type is reached. Each type is a species. Every species has a two-part scientific name. Scientists everywhere use this name. A student was asked why we classify and how the naming works.
(a) State what is meant by the term species. [1]
(b) State the name given to the largest groups into which living things are classified. [1]
(c) Explain two reasons why scientists find it useful to classify organisms. [2]
(d) The scientific name of the lion is Panthera leo. Explain how this two-part naming system works and why it is used by scientists around the world. [4]
(e) Suggest why organisms that share many features are usually placed in the same group. [2]
Answer Details
This question tests the reasons for classifying organisms and how the binomial (two-part) naming system works.
(a) A species is a group of organisms that can breed together to produce fertile offspring [1].
(b) The largest groups into which living things are classified are the kingdoms [1].
(c) Any two reasons classification is useful (1 each): it makes organisms easier to identify and study [1]; and it shows how organisms are related (their evolutionary relationships) [1].
(d) The binomial system, for Panthera leo: the first part (Panthera) is the genus and the second part (leo) is the species [1]; the genus name begins with a capital letter and the species name with a small letter (and the name is written in italics/underlined) [1]; the same name is used in every country and language [1]; so scientists everywhere know exactly which organism is meant, avoiding confusion from different local names [1].
(e) Organisms sharing many features are placed in the same group because they are likely to be closely related (share a recent common ancestor) [1]; so grouping them together reflects and shows this relationship [1].
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