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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