Synonym: generic name. The classification of organisms is the systematic grouping of living things based on characteristics, hierarchical, or phylogenetic relationships. It is one of the major aspects of taxonomy. Organisms are investigated in terms of their morphology, anatomy, physiology, evolution, behavior, development, and genetics in order to find out relationships between and among them. They are then classified into taxonomic groups and into taxonomic hierarchy.
The common taxonomic levels are domain , kingdom , phyla , class , order , family , genus , and species. Genus taxonomy is a rank generally above the species level and below the family level.
One of the most prominent contributors for a systematized classification of organisms is the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus. The classification system where organisms are categorized into taxa is called Linnaean, which was named after him. He also proposed the binomial nomenclature. In the Linnaean system, organisms are grouped based on the presumed homologies, i.
The more homologous structures shared between organisms, the more they are likely evolutionary related. In binomial nomenclature , the genus is used as the first word of a scientific name. The genus name is always capitalized and italicized. For example, the binomial name of the lion is Panthera leo. The first part, Panthera , is the genus name whereas the second part, leo , is the specific epithet.
A taxonomist experts in taxonomy assigns a scientific name for a particular species. In order for a genus to be descriptively useful, it must have monophyly, reasonable compactness, and distinctness. Willi Hennig, a German biologist, defined monophyly as groups based on shared derived characteristics or traits that distinguish the group from other groups of organisms. As for reasonable compactness, it means that the genus needs not to be expanded unnecessarily. The genus name must also show distinctness with respect to evolutionary relevant criteria such as ecology, morphology, or biogeography.
In genus classification and naming, the Nomenclature Codes provide an archetypal standard. The binomial name is different from the common or vernacular name. The latter is non-standardized and varies by location as opposed to the former that is standardized and usage is globally accepted.
A species of organisms is regarded as the most basic unit or category in the biological system of classification. To be considered into a species rank, the group must have at least two of its members capable of reproducing fertile offspring especially through sexual reproduction. Organisms from different species, although they belong under the same genus, generally cannot interbreed as their offspring would likely be infertile.
The species of a particular group of organisms would, therefore, pertain to those that can reproduce and sire fertile offspring of the same kind. Thus, they would have the same set of DNA, similar physical and morphological attributes, and demonstrate communal behavior. Species lies below the genus rank. Thus, a genus is more encompassing and relatively wider in scope than a species.
Nevertheless, the genus lies below the taxonomic family and therefore it would be less inclusive than a family since the latter serves as the collective umbrella of related genera. Certain species can still be further subdivided into subgroups called subspecies , such as varieties, formae, etc. The genus-species format is essential in naming an organism. The genus is the generic name whereas the species is the specific name in a binomial nomenclature. For example, Allium cepa commonly known as onion.
The Allium is the generic name whereas the cepa is the specific name. A taxonomic family is a group of one or more genera. The genera under a particular family share a common attribute. Thus, a family would usually be more inclusive and consists of a greater number of organisms. The genera of a particular family evolve from the same ancestors for having relatively common characteristics. In the taxonomic rank, a family is above the genus level and below the order. In modern biological classification, the type genus serves as the representative of a taxonomic family.
Thus, one or more genera in a family would define the latter. For example, the genus Panthera is a group of closely related big cats. Lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and snow leopards are all members of genus Panthera. They are not as closely related to smaller cats such as the jungle cat, sand cat and domestic cat. Those cats are in genus Felis. Both genera are in the family Felidae.
Our full scientific name is Homo sapiens , which includes our genus Homo. Organisms within a family have more in common than with organisms in any classification level above it. Because they share so much in common, organisms of a family are said to be related to each other. Genus is a way to describe the generic name for an organism. The genus classification is very specific so there are fewer organisms within each one. For this reason, there are a lot of different genera among both animals and plants.
When using taxonomy to name an organism, the genus is used to determine the first part of its two-part name. Species are as specific as you can get.
It is the lowest and most strict level of classification of living things. The main criteria for an organism to be placed in a particular species is the ability to breed with other organisms of that same species.
The species of an organism determines the second part of its two-part name. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigal people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which the Museum stands. Image credit: gadigal yilimung shield made by Uncle Charles Chicka Madden. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Learn more. Skip to main content Skip to acknowledgement of country Skip to footer On this page Toggle Table of Contents Nav What is classification?
0コメント