Organizing the Diversity of $\text{Life}$ 📚
**$\text{Taxonomy}$** is the science of classifying and naming organisms. It gives scientists a universal way to identify, group, and study the millions of species on Earth. The modern system is based on the work of **$\text{Carolus}$ $\text{Linnaeus}$** (the "Father of $\text{Taxonomy}$").
Binomial $\text{Nomenclature}$ 🏷️
This is $\text{Linnaeus}$'s two-part naming system. Every organism is assigned a unique name that is universally recognized.
Example: $\text{Homo}$ $\text{sapiens}$ ($\text{Humans}$)
The **$\text{Genus}$** is capitalized, the **$\text{species}$** is lowercase, and both are $\text{italicized}$.
The $\text{Linnaean}$ $\text{Hierarchy}$ (The $\text{Taxa}$) 🪜
Organisms are grouped into a hierarchy of categories (called $\text{taxa}$) from the largest (most diverse) to the smallest (most specific).
1. $\text{Kingdom}$
Second broadest, below $\text{Domain}$.
2. $\text{Phylum}$
Includes several related $\text{Classes}$.
3. $\text{Class}$
A group of closely related $\text{Orders}$.
4. $\text{Order}$
A group of closely related $\text{Families}$.
5. $\text{Family}$
A group of closely related $\text{Genera}$ ($\text{plural}$ of $\text{Genus}$).
6. $\text{Genus}$
A group of closely related $\text{Species}$. (First part of $\text{scientific}$ $\text{name}$).
7. $\text{Species}$
The most specific group. Organisms that can interbreed.
Mnemonic to remember the order (starting with $\text{Kingdom}$): **$\text{K}$**ing **$\text{P}$**hilip **$\text{C}$**ame **$\text{O}$**ver $\text{F}$or $\text{G}$reat $\text{S}$oup.
The $\text{Three}$ $\text{Domains}$ and $\text{Six}$ $\text{Kingdoms}$ 🌍
The $\text{Domain}$ is the largest, broadest category, based on fundamental cell differences ($\text{Prokaryotic}$ vs. $\text{Eukaryotic}$).
$\text{Domain}$ $\text{Archaea}$
$\text{Kingdom}$: **$\text{Archaebacteria}$** ($\text{Ancient}$ $\text{bacteria}$, $\text{extremophiles}$).
$\text{Domain}$ $\text{Bacteria}$
$\text{Kingdom}$: **$\text{Eubacteria}$** ($\text{True}$ $\text{bacteria}$, $\text{common}$ $\text{bacteria}$).
$\text{Domain}$ $\text{Eukarya}$
$\text{Kingdoms}$: **$\text{Protista}$**, **$\text{Fungi}$**, **$\text{Plantae}$**, **$\text{Animalia}$** ($\text{All}$ $\text{organisms}$ $\text{with}$ $\text{nuclei}$).
⚡ $\text{Linnaean}$ $\text{Order}$ $\text{Challenge}$!
Click the $\text{taxa}$ in the correct order, starting with the broadest category ($\text{Domain}$).
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