EasyBiologyHigh School (11–12)Diversity of Living Organisms › Biodiversity and NomenclatureConceptual
Give three reasons why biologists need a system for naming and grouping organisms.
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Give three reasons why biologists need a system for naming and grouping organisms.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
About to million species are known and described. Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms. Common names change with the place and the language, and they can mislead, so each organism needs one scientific name used everywhere. The four basic processes of taxonomy are characterisation, identification, classification and nomenclature. Classification groups organisms by easily observable characters. Systematics, from the Latin systema, also takes the evolutionary relationships between organisms into account.
The worked solution
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Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. So many kinds. About to million species are described. Without groups, nobody could study or remember them.
Step 2. One name everywhere. Common names change with the language and can mislead. A medicinal plant called brahmi in one place has other names elsewhere, but one scientific name lets every scientist find it.
Step 3. Uses. Correct names and groups help agriculture, forestry and industry, and show us our biological resources.
Answer: too many kinds to handle without groups; one name for the whole world; and the practical uses of taxonomy.
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