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Systematics is the branch of biology that helps organize and classify the incredible
diversity of life on Earth based on evolutionary relationships. It allows scientists to
understand how different organisms are connected through a shared ancestry, just like
organizing books in a library so we can easily find and learn from them.
Today, we focused on how evolutionary traits and genetic evidence help scientists
determine the relatedness of organisms. Using tools like cladograms and phylogenetic
trees, we saw how shared characteristics can show common ancestry and help us group
organisms more accurately. This method of classification isn't just about physical traits, it
includes molecular data like DNA and RNA as strong evidence of evolutionary history.
Time Frame
SYTEMATICS
BASED ON EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP
Diversity is so immense that if one
wishes to put things together, huge
amount of work must be done. Imagine
walking into a library with tons of
different kinds of books and there is an
inevitable need to organize these
books so that information and
knowledge from them will be put into
better use. Systematics is analogous to
that scenario.
SYTEMATICS
BASED ON EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIP
Classification - is the process of arranging objects, ideas or information
into groups based on shared characteristics or criteria. It is used to facilitate
finding, identifying, and studying of objects, ideas, or information.
TAXONOMY VS SYSTEMATICS
Taxonomy is primarily concerned with naming and classifying organisms
based on their similarities and differences. It involves creating hierarchical
groups (taxa) such as species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and
kingdom. Taxonomists use morphological, anatomical, physiological, and
molecular characteristics to classify organisms into these groups. On the
other hand, systematics is a broader field that encompasses taxonomy but
goes beyond it. Systematics not only involves naming and classifying
organisms but also explores their evolutionary relationships.
Later on, it was identified that prokaryotes are distinctly different from
single-celled eukaryotes. American biologist Herbert Copeland (1902-
1968) proposed a four-kingdom scheme. He classified prokaryotic
organisms (bacteria and blue-green algae) into a separate kingdom called
Monera. In 1969, Robert Whittaker, proposed a fifth kingdom called Fungi.
Kingdom Fungi included mushrooms, yeasts, and molds. Fungi were the
multicellular saprophytes or decomposers, and Protista represented
organisms that did not fit in any of the four kingdoms.
4. Class: Each phylum is then divided into classes. Classes within the
chordata phylum include mammalia (mammals), reptilia (reptiles) and
osteichthyes (fish), among others.
1. All the scientific names of organisms are usually Latin therefore they are
written in italics
2. The first word identifies the genus and the second word identifies the
species.
3. If printed in books or magazines, both names are italicized. If hand
written, both names should be underlined.
SPECIES CONCEPT
Measuring species diversity necessitates establishing a clear definition of
what constitutes a species. While we don't anticipate every individual
within a species to be the same, we need to evaluate the extent and nature
of variations among individuals that would prompt us to classify them as
separate species. Consequently, a species concept serves as a practical
definition of a species and/or a framework for assessing whether two
organisms belong to the same species.
There are various hypotheses as to the origin of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Because all cells are similar in nature, it is generally thought that all cells came from
a common ancestor cell termed the last universal common ancestor (LUCA). These
LUCAs eventually evolved into three different cell types, each representing a
domain. The three domains are the Archaea, the Bacteria, and the Eukarya.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
2. Domain Archaea
Organisms that are classified under the domain Archaea are perceived to be more
primitive than bacteria. They are considered to be more closely related to eukaryotes.
Their cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan, but a complex form of glycoprotein called
pseudopeptidoglycan. They are diverse in shape and mode of nutrition. Archaea are said
to be extreme thermophiles because of their ability to survive in extreme environmental
conditions.
The Archaea possess the following characteristics:
1. Archaea are prokaryotic cells.
2. Unlike the Bacteria and the Eukarya, the Archaea have membranes composed of
branched hydrocarbon chains (many also containing rings within the hydrocarbon
chains) attached to glycerol by ether linkages.
3. The cell walls of Archaea contain no peptidoglycan.
4. Archaea are not sensitive to some antibiotics that affect the Bacteria, but are sensitive
to some antibiotics that affect the Eukarya.
5. Archaea contain rRNA that is unique to the Archaea as indicated by the presence
molecular regions distinctly different from the rRNA of Bacteria and Eukarya.
Figure 1. Membrane Lipids of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. The Bacteria and the Eukarya have membranes composed of
unbranched fatty acid chains attached to glycerol by ester linkages. The Archaea have membranes composed of branched
hydrocarbon chains attached to glycerol by ether linkages.
Some members of domain archaea have been found to live in boiling ocean floors and in
mud marshes in the absence of oxygen. The kingdom under this domain is the
Archaebacteria.
Archaea often live in extreme environments and include methanogens, extreme halophiles,
and hyperthermophiles. One reason for this is that the ether-containing linkages in the
Archaea membranes is more stable than the ester-containing linkages in the Bacteria and
Eukarya and are better able to withstand higher temperatures and stronger acid
concentrations.
3. Domain Eukarya
Other main characteristics of the members of this group is the presence of
membrane-bound nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. All members of this
group are called eukaryotes.
The Eukarya (also spelled Eucarya) possess the following characteristics:
1. Eukarya have eukaryotic cells.
2. Like the Bacteria, they have membranes composed of unbranched fatty acid chains
attached to glycerol by ester linkages (Figure 1.3.31.3.3).
3. Not all Eukarya possess cells with a cell wall, but for those Eukarya having a cell wall,
that wall contains no peptidoglycan.
4. Eukarya are resistant to traditional antibacterial antibiotics but are sensitive to most
antibiotics that affect eukaryotic cells.
5. Eukarya contain rRNA that is unique to the Eukarya as indicated by the presence
molecular regions distinctly different from the rRNA of Archaea and Bacteria.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
This domain includes Kingdom Protista, Kingdom Fungi, Kingdom Plantae, and Kingdom
Animalia.
Microbes are known to live in remarkably diverse environments, many of which are
extremely harsh. This amazing and rapid adaptability is a result of their ability to quickly
modify their repertoire of protein functions by modifying, gaining, or losing their genes.
This gene expansion predominantly takes place by horizontal transfer.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
EVOLUTIONARY CLASSIFICATION
Classification is the process of creating a hierarchical system of categories
based on the characteristics and natural relationships among organisms. There are
different systems of classifications based on the structure, habitats, behaviour and
various other characteristics of organisms.
Examples:
Classification of organisms by Aristotle: Aristotle classified organisms into
three types based on the habitat. He classified animals into air dwellers, land
dwellers and water dwellers based on their habitat.
Classification of plants by Aristotle: Aristotle classified plants, during the
second century, based on the simple morphological characteristics such as
height and girth. The classification includes herbs, shrubs and trees.
Linnaean System of Classification: Carl Linnaeus classified 7,300 flowering
plants into 24 classes based on superficial morphological characteristics such
as the structure of the reproductive organs (number and arrangement of male
and female organs).
Example:
This system classified organisms into mammals, birds and fishes.
1. Mammal possess mammary glands and have hairs on their body. They are
viviparous (giving birth to young ones). They possess four chambered hearts.
2. Bird possess wings and their body is covered by feathers. They possess
pneumatic bones which help in flight. They are oviparous (laying eggs). They
also possess four chambered hearts.
3. Fish do not possess limbs, instead they have fins. Their bodies are covered by
scales. They possess gills for respiration. They are cold blooded and possess
two chambered hearts.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
BASIS OF CLASSIFICATION
Characters are inherited features that vary among species. Scientist are able
to infer phylogenies based on these heritable characters which includes
morphological and molecular data. Because these data could reflect evolutionary
relationship among different species of organisms, scientist were able to determine
common ancestry.
1. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
Morphological Characters are the physical features and structures of an
organism that are used to identify and classify different species. This includes the
form and structure of an organism or a part of an organism.
2. BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERS
The most convincing evidence for determining evolutionary relationships
among species is the biochemistry of cells. DNA and RNA analyses are powerful
tools in determining species similarities and reconstructing phylogenies. In general,
the greater the number of shared genes, the greater the evidence of common
descent.
EVOLUTIONARY
RELATIONSHIP OF ORGANISM
The evolutionary relationship of organisms can be represented by a
phylogenetic tree or a cladogram.
PHYLOGENETIC TREE
Biologist traditionally represent
evolutionary relationships among
organisms in phylogenetic tree.
Phylogenetic tree illustrates how related
organisms evolved from a common
ancestor based on the best reliable
resources. This is based on the
comparison on ribosomal RNA base
sequences among living organisms.
Phylogenetic trees are hypotheses, not
definitive facts. Two species are more
related if they have a more recent
common ancestor and less related if they
have a less recent common ancestor.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
CLADOGRAM
Systematists use cladistics, an analytical method
of hypothesizing evolutionary relationships. This is
depicted through a branching diagram called a
cladogram.
Clade or Monophyletic group- A branch of
cladogram with a common ancestor and all
descendants.
Example: If we group organism to Archosaurs, it can
include all descendants from crocodile to bird
Paraphyletic group - are groups of organisms that
include a common ancestor but not all
descendants of that ancestor.
Example: Reptiles include lizard and crocodile, but it
excludes bird, so not all descendants were included
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
Objective:
To let students familiarize making a cladogramof representative organisms.
Procedure:
Using the table of traits below, create a cladogram for the given organisms.
Make sure to properly label each branch. You can do this activity by pair. Write
this in a 1 whole sheet of paper.
ALFORQUE, CHIONG, & JAMERO GENBIO 2
References:
An Overview of Genus. (n.d.). Byjus.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024, from
https://byjus.com/neet/an-overview-of-genus/
Barry G. Hall, Building Phylogenetic Trees from Molecular Data with MEGA,
Molecular Biology and Evolution, Volume 30, Issue 5, May 2013, Pages 1229–
1235, https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst012 Biological classification. (n.d.).
BKIDS.
https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/biologicalclassification/611149
Classification System. (2009, April 30). Sciencelearn. Retrieved April 6, 2024,
from https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1438-classification-system
Kaiser, G. (2023, August 31). 1.3: Classification - The three domain system.
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https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(Kaiser)/Unit_
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Professor Dave. Cladistics Part 1: Constructing Cladograms. 17 Nov. 2017,
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