Unit 11: Dichotomous Key & Taxonomy 7.11A Examine organisms or their structures such as insects or leaves and use dichotomous keys for identification Binomial Nomenclature - 2 word naming system o Genus species (underlined) o Genus species (italized) o G. species (abbreviated) Dichotomous Key – A tool that consists of a series of yes/no questions about organism’s structures to classify and name them o Always start with question 1 o A or B will be true for the organism o Follow the YES’s until you arrive at a name o Some questions may be skipped, just follow the yes’s Common insect features Common leaf structures Simple Compound (leaflet placement on (leaflet placement on (leaflet placement on stem) stem) stem) (single leaf) (many leaflets) Alternate Opposite Whorled (around) Heart-shaped (edge) Lobed or rounded (edge) Wavy (Crenate) (edge) Toothed serrated Broad Shape - Pinnate Singular vein rough jagged (edge) Smooth / Viens – extend from middle Oval (shape) Oval (shape) Narrow Bristle Tip Scale-like Needle-like Palmate Branching Veins Cluster of 5 Veins extend from base 6.12 D Identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction, that further classify them in the currently recognized Kingdoms Levels of taxonomic classification o Broadest Smallest . DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies o Smallest Broadest . SpeciesGenusFamilyOrderClassPhylumKingdomDomain 3 currently recognized Domains – Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya 6 currently recognized Kingdoms – Bacteria, Archaea, Protist, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia o Must know characteristics that classify organisms into each Kingdom (chart) o If an organisms is prokaryotic and sexual – it must be in Domain Archaea o If an organism is eukaryotic, multicellular, autotrophic – Domain Plantae o If an organisms is eukaryotic, unicellular, auto or heterotrophic – Domain Protist .