What is a Species?
Intro to the Animal Project
Which of these organisms are the most closely related?
Pick 3 or 4 that you think are related and defend your answer.
Cladogram
Organisms are traditionally classified according to like characteristics. To show how organisms have evolved over time to be different, scientists sometimes develop a family tree to show this, called a cladogram.
A Cladogram is a chart that biologists use to classify organisms and describe how closely related they are.
Traits
Oldest/simplest organism
Most recent/complex organism
Most recent common ancestor of Fish & Primates
Think about it:
What is a “species?”
What characteristics determine if a group of organisms is in the same species or not?
What is a Species?
Species: A group of organisms that can successfully interbreed with each other and produce viable offspring.
How do scientists organize life?
Think about it:
Why would scientists want to categorize organisms in this way?
Most Inclusive Level
(Many Organisms)
Least Inclusive Level
(Many Organisms)
Taxonomy: The scientific study of how living things are classified
Biologists use classification to organize living things into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.
Watch this video to help you
understand how scientists classify
living things:
Here is another example of how to classify.
NOTICE!
Highest Level = Most Organisms
Species Level = only one organism
Most of the life we think about comes from just this green branch! (Eukaryotes)
Animal Project
Goal:
To research a group of animals to learn about how scientists classify them and to communicate what makes them unique from other animals.
10 point assignment
Due next Monday, April 20th
Examples of Possible Groups for Animal Project