Diversity of Life
Diversity of Life
Concept 1.2
Organizing the diversity of life
Diversity the hallmark of life
So far about 1.8 million specie have been identified and named by biologists
To this date, diversity of life includes at least
6300 species of prokaryotes
100000 fungi
290000 plants
52000 vertebrates
1 million insects
Researchers add about 1000 more species each year
Total number of species range from 10 million to over 100 million
Grouping Species: The Basic Idea
Taxonomy
branch of biology that names and classifies species formalizes this ordering of species into groups of increasing breadth
(Species-Genus-Family-Order-Class-Phylum-Kingdom-Domain)
The Three Domains of Life
3 domains (higher level of classification that groups kingdoms)
Bacteria
Prokaryotic (single-celled; microscopic)
Archaea
Prokaryotic (single-celled; microscopic)
Eukarya
Eukaryotic
Includes single-celled eukaryotes
Splits the protists into several groups in the kingdom level
Includes 3 kingdoms of multicellular eukaryotes
Distinguished partly by their modes of nutrition
Plantae
Plants produce their own sugar and other foods through photosynthesis
Fungi
Absorbs dissolved nutrients from their surroundings (many decomposing dead organism and organic wastes)
Animalia
Obtain food by ingestion (eating and digesting of other organisms)
Unity in the Diversity of Life
As diverse as life is, it also displays remarkable unity
Similarities are even more striking at the molecular and cellular levels
Ex. universal genetic language of DNA is common to organisms as different as bacteria and animals
Unity is also evident in many features of cell structure
The process of evolution illuminates both the similarities and differences in the world of life and introduces another dimension of biology: historical time
Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin published one of the most important and influential books ever written; On the Origin of Species by
Concept 1.2
Organizing the diversity of life
Diversity the hallmark of life
So far about 1.8 million specie have been identified and named by biologists
To this date, diversity of life includes at least
6300 species of prokaryotes
100000 fungi
290000 plants
52000 vertebrates
1 million insects
Researchers add about 1000 more species each year
Total number of species range from 10 million to over 100 million
Grouping Species: The Basic Idea
Taxonomy
branch of biology that names and classifies species formalizes this ordering of species into groups of increasing breadth
(Species-Genus-Family-Order-Class-Phylum-Kingdom-Domain)
The Three Domains of Life
3 domains (higher level of classification that groups kingdoms)
Bacteria
Prokaryotic (single-celled; microscopic)
Archaea
Prokaryotic (single-celled; microscopic)
Eukarya
Eukaryotic
Includes single-celled eukaryotes
Splits the protists into several groups in the kingdom level
Includes 3 kingdoms of multicellular eukaryotes
Distinguished partly by their modes of nutrition
Plantae
Plants produce their own sugar and other foods through photosynthesis
Fungi
Absorbs dissolved nutrients from their surroundings (many decomposing dead organism and organic wastes)
Animalia
Obtain food by ingestion (eating and digesting of other organisms)
Unity in the Diversity of Life
As diverse as life is, it also displays remarkable unity
Similarities are even more striking at the molecular and cellular levels
Ex. universal genetic language of DNA is common to organisms as different as bacteria and animals
Unity is also evident in many features of cell structure
The process of evolution illuminates both the similarities and differences in the world of life and introduces another dimension of biology: historical time
Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection
Charles Darwin published one of the most important and influential books ever written; On the Origin of Species by