Taxonomy

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. Use the following classifications to determine which organism is least related out of the
three. Explain your rationale. The Eastern Newt is least related out of the three. The
Eastern Newt may be in the same domain, kingdom, and phylum, but it is not in the
Anura order.

Classifications

Classification American Green European Fire-

Eastern Newt
Level Tree Frog Bellied Toad
Domain Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia
Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata
Class Amphibia Amphibia Amphibia
Order Anura Anura Caudata
Family Hylidae Bombinatoridae Salamandridae
Genus Tursipops Bombina Notophthalamus
Species Cinera bombina viridescens

2. How has DNA sequencing affected the science of classifying organisms? Scientists can
compare the genes of organisms at a molecular level. Before scientists could only
examine the physical traits of an organism but now they can see the genes that cause
them. Scientists can now also see if two organisms are related by examining their
genes.

3. You are on vacation and see an organism that you do not recognize. Discuss what
possible steps you can take to classify it. I could compare the physical traits of the
organism to those of others I am familiar with to possibly determine if it is related. Even if
I am unaware of it’s name I might research some of its distinctive traits such as a large
triangular beak or its color if it’s a bird.

© eScience Labs, 2018

Taxonomy

EXERCISE 1: DICHOTOMOUS KEY PRACTICE

Result Tables

Table 2: Dichotomous Key Results

Organism Binomial Name

Selasphorus platycercus
i
Mus musculus
ii
Vaccinium oxycoccus
iii
Ramphastos vitellinus
iv
Quercus alba
v
Euathlas smithi
vi
Helix aspersa
vii
Taeniopygia guttata
viii
Lonicera japonica
ix
Carduelis tristis
x
Oryctes nasicomis
xi
Dryocopus pileatus
xii
Musa acuminata
xiii

Post-Lab Questions

1. What do you notice about the options at each step as they go from number one up? As
you go down the list, it becomes more and more specific until it has been narrowed
down enough.

4. How does your answer from Question 1 relate to the Linnaean classification system?
The classification system starts with a general term and slowly narrows down the
possible answers.

© eScience Labs, 2018

Taxonomy

EXERCISE 2: CLASSIFICATIONS OF ORGANISMS

Result Tables

Table 3: Classifications

Defined Cell
Organism Domain Kingdom Motile Photosynthesis Unicellular
Nucleus Wall

E. Coli Bacteria No Yes Yes No Yes

Protozoa Eukarya Protista Yes Yes No No Yes

Mushroom Eukarya Fungi Yes No Yes No No

Sunflower Eukarya Plantae Yes No Yes Yes No

Bear Eukarya Animalia Yes Yes No No No

Post-Lab Questions

1. Did this series of questions correctly organize each organism? Why or why not? If I
answered all of the questions correctly than yes they should be correctly organized.

5. What additional questions would you ask to further categorize the organisms within the
kingdoms (Hint: think about other organisms in the kingdom and what makes them
different than the examples used here)? Another possible question (mainly for bacteria)
is does it have membrane bound organelles.

6. Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have
asked? One of the first questions I asked was can it move. Obviously a mushroom or
sunflower can’t. Second was can it photosynthesis. The only one on the list which could
was the sunflower.

© eScience Labs, 2018