1. What is Taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the study of defining, naming and classification of biological organisms on the basis of their
shared characteristics.
2. Why do Biologists use scientific names instead of common names?
Every familiar species on the earth is given a scientific name that has two part. This system of giving the
name of biological organisms is called binomial nomenclature. These names are significant as they permit
the people throughout the world to communicate unambiguously about the animal species. A single
organism have different common name in the different culture, language and in various part of the world.
So, the common name can not be used for the communication.

3. If two organisms are in the same class, what other levels in the hierarchy of life are they in
together?
If the organisms are in the same class, they must be in the same kingdom and phylum. For example, the
animals of class reptile have same chordata phylum and Animalia kingdom.
4. What is the diagram below called?

The diagram show the phylogenetic tree.

5. What is the common ancestral characteristic of amphibians and rodents?

I. Eggs with shell
II. Four limbs
III. Bony Skelton
IV. Vertebrae
6. What is the unique derived characteristic of crocodiles?
Crocodiles have the power jaws with several conical teeth and short legs. The body of the
crocodile is very unique that allows eyes, nostrils and ears to be above the surface of water while
the animals is hidden below the water. The tail of crocodile is very long and huge and plated and
thick skin.

7. Identify the Kingdom the organisms described below are in:

An organism that contains a cell and is a multicellular autotroph kingdom Plantae.
An organism that is unicellular with a nucleus & mitochondria kingdom Protista.
An organism that is unicellular contains a cell wall & has a few introns in its DNA kingdom Monera.

8. Which of the following taxon's includes the most specific characteristics

Order
Class
Family
Phylum
In the taxon’s family have the most specific characteristics.

9. Which organisms in the chart to the right are most closely related – explain
Mountain loin and domestic dogs are most closely related organisms as they belongs to the same
kingdom, phylum, class and order that is Animalia, Chordata and Mammalia and carnivore
respectively and green frog belong to different class and order.
10. Using the chart below, what can you conclude about an organism named Rana temporaria.
Rana temporaria is the scientific name of the green frog. It belongs to the Animalia kingdom, chordata
phylum and class amphibian. It belongs to the order (Anura), family (Randae), genus (Rana) and
species (Clamitans).

11. For clarification, in order from left to right at the top of the chart on this page are:
Flatworms, lobsters, spiders, perch, flounder, lungfish, mammals, birds, lizards
According to the chart below, what is the shared ancestral chart of all these organisms?
Flatworms is the shared ancestral chart of all these organisms.

12. According to the chart above which organisms are more closely related
Mammals & Birds
OR
Mammals & Lungfish
According to the above chart mammals and birds are more closely related because mammals and birds are
evolved from the common ancestor vertebrates.

13. What is the major difference between mammals and birds according to the chart above?
The major difference between the mammals and birds is birds lay amniotic eggs and mammals give the
birth to living young.
14. According to the chart below what trait is found in tuna but not lamprey?
Jaws trait is found in tuna but not in lamprey.

15. According to the chart on the right what trait is found in all organisms except lancelet?
Vertebral column is the trait that found in all organisms except lancelet.
 16. According to the chart at the bottom of the slide which two species of birds are most closely
related?

Eastern bluebird and Robin are most closely related species of the birds. They have the same class, order
and family as compare to ovenbird and western kingbird.

17. Do you see any indication that sexual selection has occurred in the human body (not the
genitalia), human behavior or cognition (thinking)? Describe what these might be or explain
why you think there are no sexually selected physical differ. Describe (answer in 150 words)
Human behavior and cognition are sexually selected in the human body. It is estimated that there are
about 807 coding genes that are present on the X- Chromosome involved in the selection of the behavior
and cognition. Why genes that affect the cognition and behavior are present in the high concentration on
the X- chromosome? It is much easy to spot the mutations that affect the mental intelligence, behavior,
and cognition on the X-chromosome because if the expression of these genes are recessive the phenotype
will express in the male. The genes which are linked to the X-chromosome are highly expressed in the
mammalian brain. In case of the human the expression of X-linked genes are high in the human brain.
These genes could be diving the size of brain and cortical complexity. If it has become a source for the
genes highly and specifically expressed in the brain, enhancing the cognative functions, this might have
afforded a selective advantage for the male than female in the sexual reproduction.