Chapter 26

Overview

• Taxonomy and Systematics
• Phylogenetic Trees
• Horizontal Gene Transfer

Taxonomy

The Science of describing, naming, and classifying living an extinct organisms and viruses.

Systematics

Study of biological diversity and the evolutionary  relationships among organisms, both extinct and modern.

• Taxonomic groups are based on hypothesis regarding evolutionary relationships from systematics 
• Hierarchical system involving successive levels
• Each group at any level is called a taxon
• Highest level is Domain
  • All life belongs to 3 domains
  • Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
    • The Eukarya Domain is often divided into Kingdoms in the next level
      This is typically called the 4 Kingdom concept