p.1
Definition and Scope of Biology
What is biology the science of?
Biology is the science of life forms and living processes.
p.1
Historical Perspectives on Living Organisms
How did early man perceive the difference between inanimate matter and living organisms?
Early man could easily perceive the difference between inanimate matter and living organisms.
p.1
Historical Perspectives on Living Organisms
What did early societies often do with inanimate matter and some living beings?
Early societies deified some inanimate matter and some among the animals and plants.
p.6
Taxonomy and Its Processes
What does systematics include?
Identification, nomenclature, and classification.
p.3
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What increases the range and variety of organisms observed?
Increasing the area of observation leads to a greater range and variety of living organisms.
p.5
Systematics and Evolutionary Relationships
What is the branch of study that explores the relationships among various organisms?
This branch of study is referred to as systematics.
p.5
Taxonomy and Its Processes
What kind of characteristics are essential for modern taxonomic studies?
External and internal structure, structure of cells, development processes, and ecological information of organisms are essential.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
Who is credited with the naming system called Binomial nomenclature?
Carolus Linnaeus is credited with the Binomial nomenclature system.
p.9
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What system is used to assign a scientific name to organisms?
The binomial system of nomenclature is used to assign a scientific name to organisms, comprising two words.
p.9
Classification of Living Organisms
What is a taxon?
A taxon is a group of one or more populations of organisms which form a unit in classification.
p.3
Definition and Scope of Biology
What are the two implicit questions within the question of 'what is life'?
The first implicit question is technical, seeking to define what living is as opposed to the non-living. The second is philosophical, asking about the purpose of life.
p.8
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
As you move from species to kingdom in the taxonomic hierarchy, what happens to the number of common characteristics?
The number of common characteristics decreases.
p.8
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
Which taxonomic category contains the housefly, man, mango, and wheat?
These organisms belong to various taxonomic categories within the hierarchy.
p.1
Classification of Living Organisms
What will be covered in the following chapters of the unit?
Descriptions, including classification, of animals and plants from a taxonomist’s perspective.
p.6
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is a taxon?
A unit of classification that represents a rank.
p.6
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What are genera in taxonomy?
Higher levels of taxon that may include one or more specific epithets representing different organisms with morphological similarities.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What language are biological names generally derived from?
Biological names are generally derived from Latin.
p.1
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What cultural movements were sparked by the realization of similarities among living organisms?
Cultural movements for the conservation of biodiversity were sparked by this realization.
p.3
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What does biodiversity refer to?
Biodiversity refers to the number and variety of species known and described, which range between 1.7-1.8 million.
p.6
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What distinguishes one species from another closely related species?
Distinct morphological differences.
p.1
Importance of Taxonomy in Various Fields
What kind of view could societies with an anthropocentric perspective on biology register?
Societies with an anthropocentric view could register limited progress in biological knowledge.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
How are both words in a biological name formatted when handwritten?
Both words are separately underlined or printed in italics.
p.9
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is the correct sequence of taxonomical categories?
The correct sequence of taxonomical categories is Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom.
p.5
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What does the name of the author indicate in a species name like Mangifera indica Linn.?
The author's name indicates who first described the species, in this case, Linnaeus.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is nomenclature?
Nomenclature is the process of naming organisms systematically and appropriately.
p.1
Definition and Scope of Biology
What was a common feature of both inanimate and animate objects?
A sense of awe or fear that they evoked was a common feature.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
Which order includes the families Felidae and Canidae?
The order Carnivora includes the families Felidae (cats) and Canidae (dogs).
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is the purpose of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)?
ICZN establishes a standard for naming animal species.
p.5
Classification of Living Organisms
What is classification in the context of biology?
Classification is the process of grouping living organisms into convenient categories based on observable characteristics.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
Which genera are included in the family Solanaceae?
Genera such as Solanum, Petunia, and Datura are placed in the family Solanaceae.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
Which class includes the order Primata?
The class Mammalia includes the order Primata.
p.1
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What was the biggest result of systematic studies of life forms?
The recognition of the sharing of similarities among living organisms both horizontally and vertically.
p.2
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What areas did Mayr's research cover?
Ornithology, taxonomy, zoogeography, evolution, systematics, and the history and philosophy of biology.
p.9
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is meant by taxonomic hierarchy?
Taxonomic hierarchy is a system that comprises various ranks or categories used to classify organisms.
p.2
Ernst Mayr and Evolutionary Biology
What significant question did Ernst Mayr make central to evolutionary biology?
The origin of species diversity
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is the scientific name of mango?
The scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica.
p.2
Historical Perspectives on Living Organisms
What was Ernst Mayr's role at Harvard University?
Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology Emeritus
p.2
Ernst Mayr and Evolutionary Biology
What did Ernst Mayr pioneer in the field of biology?
The currently accepted definition of a biological species
p.5
Taxonomy and Its Processes
What is the term used to refer to categories used to study organisms?
The scientific term for these categories is 'taxa'.
p.6
Classification of Living Organisms
How are taxonomic categories illustrated?
Through examples like insects, which share common features and can be classified.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What are the two components of a scientific name?
The two components are the Generic name and the specific epithet.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What does the first word in a biological name represent?
The first word represents the genus.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is the higher taxonomic category that includes classes?
Phylum is the higher taxonomic category that includes classes.
p.9
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
List some taxonomic categories.
Some taxonomic categories include Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, and Phylum.
p.9
Nomenclature and Binomial System
Identify the correctly written scientific name of Mango.
The correctly written scientific name of Mango is Mangifera indica.
p.3
Biodiversity and Its Importance
What types of habitats are mentioned in the text where living organisms can be found?
The habitats mentioned include cold mountains, deciduous forests, oceans, fresh water lakes, deserts, and hot springs.
p.6
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is the meaning of 'taxonomic category'?
It is a part of the overall taxonomic arrangement and represents a rank in classification.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is a genus?
A genus comprises a group of related species that have more characters in common compared to species of other genera.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What distinguishes the order from other taxonomic categories?
Order is identified based on aggregates of characters and includes families that exhibit a few similar characters.
p.2
Importance of Taxonomy in Various Fields
What are the three major prizes Mayr received that are regarded as the 'triple crown' of biology?
Balzan Prize, International Prize for Biology, Crafoord Prize
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is the role of International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)?
ICBN provides agreed principles and criteria for naming plants.
p.9
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
Define the term 'phylum'.
A phylum is a rank in the taxonomic hierarchy that groups together organisms with a similar body plan.
p.5
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is the significance of the capitalization in the binomial nomenclature of species such as Mangifera indica?
The first word, which denotes the genus, starts with a capital letter, while the specific epithet starts with a small letter. For example, in Mangifera indica, 'Mangifera' is capitalized and 'indica' is not.
p.5
Taxonomy and Its Processes
What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the process of classification that includes characterisation, identification, classification, and nomenclature of living organisms.
p.9
Taxonomy and Its Processes
What is the definition of taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the branch of knowledge dealing with the identification, nomenclature, and classification of organisms.
p.1
Systematics and Evolutionary Relationships
What does the recognition of similarities among living organisms imply?
It implies that all present-day living organisms are related to each other and to all organisms that ever lived on Earth.
p.9
Importance of Taxonomy in Various Fields
What are the applications of taxonomic studies?
Taxonomic studies are useful in agriculture, forestry, industry, and understanding biodiversity.
p.3
Classification of Living Organisms
What do different kinds of plants, animals, or organisms represent?
Each different kind represents a species.
p.4
Nomenclature and Binomial System
What is the need for standardizing the naming of organisms?
To ensure that a particular organism is known by the same name worldwide and to avoid confusion caused by local names.
p.8
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is more complex, determining relationships at higher taxonomic categories or lower ones?
Determining relationships at higher taxonomic categories is more complex.
p.1
Historical Perspectives on Living Organisms
When did the systematic description of living organisms begin in human history?
The description of living organisms began much later in human history.
p.9
Importance of Taxonomy in Various Fields
Why do biologists classify living organisms?
Biologists classify living organisms to study the kinds and diversity of organisms effectively.
p.5
Historical Perspectives on Living Organisms
What is the origin of the word 'systematics'?
The word systematics is derived from the Latin word 'systema', meaning systematic arrangement of organisms.
p.7
Taxonomic Hierarchy and Categories
What is a family in biological classification?
A family is a group of related genera that share fewer similarities compared to genus and species.
