Mr. Biology Bugs
Biological Classification
A. Purpose:
The object of this exercise is to identify sixteen living things by
using the biological key in the text.
Classification is probably one of the greatest accomplishments of
science. In the study of biology, classify
organisms helps researchers uncover many, many facts. For example, there are many, many organisms
on the earth and they have many, many properties and characteristics. Some of
their characteristics they have in common with other organisms, and some of their
characteristics are unique. All of these facts comprise a huge volume of data
that, by itself, would be hard to understand and virtually impossible to use.
The classification system that is most frequently used by
researchers is multi-leveled. It starts by splitting all organisms up into five
different groups known as kingdoms.
The organisms within each kingdom can then be further divided into different
groups called phyla. Each phylum
can be further divided into classes, which
can be further divided into orders.
Within an order, organisms can be divided into families, which can be further divided into genera, which can finally be broken
down into species. This
multi-leveled is often called "hierarchical" classification scheme.
The names of these kingdoms are Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. The proper names of all the classification groups are
Latin, and when they are used, the names must be capitalized to emphasize that
these are proper classification names.
Kingdom Monera contains all organisms that are composed of either
one prokaryotic cell or a simple association of prokaryotic cells. What does it
mean to say "a simple association" of cells? Well, if cells work
together in order to complete the tasks necessary for life, they can do so in
one of two ways. They can either be highly specialized, each taking on a
specific set of tasks needed for the organism to survive, or they can simply
work together as a group, each performing essentially the same tasks, but doing
so as a group. The cells in a person, for example, work together in the first
way. The cells that make up a person’s eyes specialize in the detection of
light and the transmission of light-induced information to the brain, while red
blood cells specialize in transporting oxygen to other cells. These cells
perform different functions, each of which is necessary for the support of
life. Blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria), however, simply group
themselves together in chains. The cells in the chain are usually bound
together by mucus, but they each do essentially the same task. They simply find
strength and survivability in numbers. This is an example of a "simple
association" of cells. Blue-green algae and bacteria are both members of
kingdom Monera. A good website which
provides classification information on kingdom Monera can be found at: http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Bact303/MajorGroupsOfProkaryotes
The next kingdom is called Protista. It contains those organisms
that are composed of only one eukaryotic cell or a simple association of
eukaryotic cells. Amoebae and paramecia are members of kingdom Protista.
Kingdoms Monera and Protista together contain most of the microorganisms that
exist on earth.
Moving out of the microscopic world (for the most part) and into the
macroscopic world (the world that can be seen with the naked eye), the kingdom
Fungi is encountered. This kingdom is comprised of decomposers. Decomposers are
those organisms that feed off of dead organisms, decomposing them into their
constituent chemicals so that they can be used again by the producers. Most
members of the kingdom Fungi have eukaryotic cells. In addition, most Fungi are
multicellular, but there are a few single-celled Fungi. Mushrooms and bread molds are examples of the
organisms in kingdom Fungi. A website
which provides great pictures of organisms in kingdom Fungi is: http://www.bioart.co.uk/fungi/index.html
The next kingdom, Plantae, is composed of autotrophs (organisms that
produce their own food). Almost all members of kingdom Plantae are multicelled
organisms with eukaryotic cells. Even though the members of kingdom Plantae are
mostly autotrophs, there are a few exceptions. Some parasitic organisms are
considered members of kingdom Plantae. As you have probably already guessed,
members of kingdom Plantae are often called "plants." Thus, trees,
grass, flowers, etc., are all members of kingdom Plantae.
The last kingdom, Animalia, contains multicellular organisms with
eukaryotic cells. Members of kingdom Animalia are separated from kingdom
Plantae by the fact that they are heterotrophs (dependent on other organisms
for food) but are not decomposers (decomposers are in kingdom Fungi). Of
course, members of kingdom Animalia are called "animals."
Grasshoppers, birds, cats, fish, and snakes are all members of kingdom
Animalia.
The following experiment will show the kind of evidence kind of
evidence that can be gained by using a Biological classification system.
Understanding classification is interesting because it can be used
to predict things about organisms based on the knowledge gained.
Hypothesis: If given
pictures of 16 biological organisms and a biological classification chart, then
the 16 organisms pictured can be classified into kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus, and species.
B. Equipment:
1. Exploring Creation With Biology, Module 1
2. Exploring Creation With Biology, Figure 1.6
3. Exploring Creation With Biology, Experiment 1.1, Specimens for the lab
C. Procedure:
1. Reread the section on how
to identify the elephant that has been described in the text
2. Identify the sixteen
pictures given by working through the key on pgs. 23 and 24 of the text
3. While working through the
key, make a chart and fill it in
D. Observations:
1. Initially figure 1.6 is
hard to understand and directions are few.
2. After reading the section on how to
identify the elephant, things are becoming clearer.
3. First picture correctly coded as 1,
3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 14, 16, 17, and 19.
4. Moth identified as kingdom Animalia,
phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta, and order Lepidoptera; however, cannot
identify family, genus or species with information given.
5. Continued classifying the remaining
15 organisms. Things are going easier.
6. Began filling in chart with data
being collected.
7.
Will e-mail completed chart as directed as
an e-mail attachment.
E. Conclusions:
This experiment shows that pictures of animal pictures can, indeed,
provide useful classification data about the animals. However, the classification chart provided in
the textbook did not provide enough information to completely classify the
animals into kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. The hypothesis is, therefore, null and should
be revised to read, “If given pictures of 16 biological organisms and the
biological classification key (figure 1.6), then the 16 organisms pictured can
be classified into at least one of the classification categories of kingdom,
phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Ideas to improve this experiment include using a more extensive
classification chart and maybe focusing only on one kingdom’s organisms to
provide classification insight.
Things which should be researched further include more extensive
biological classification charts for kingdom Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and
Animalia. Note: an extensive chart for
kingdom Monera was already found. Please
see citations below.
F. Bibliography:
Domain: http://www.bact.wisc.edu
Document: /Bact303/MajorGroupsOfProkaryotes
Domain: http://www.bioart.co.uk
Document: /fungi/index.html
Rosenoff, Steven. Class Lecture.
Student, Jennifer. Experiment 1.1 Report.
Wile, Dr. Jay L., and Marilyn F Durnell. Exploring Creation with Biology, 2nd Ed. Apologia
Educational Ministries, Inc. 2005
This experiment report example is the
exclusive property of Red Wagon Tutorials.
It may not be used except by a student who has paid a fee for access. This example is copyrighted and may not be
reproduced without specific written permission from the course instructor or
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