Taxonomy & Dichotomous Keys

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What is taxonomy?

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Taxonomy is the science of classifying and naming organisms based on shared characteristics.

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What is a dichotomous key?

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A dichotomous key is a tool that allows the identification of organisms through a series of choices that lead to the correct name.

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What language is primarily used for scientific naming of organisms?

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Latin is primarily used for scientific naming of organisms.

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What is binomial nomenclature?

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Binomial nomenclature is a two-part naming system for organisms, consisting of the genus name and the species name.

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What is the genus name of an organism?

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The genus name is the first part of the scientific name and groups together species that are closely related.

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What is the species name in binomial nomenclature?

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The species name is the second part of the scientific name and identifies the specific organism within the genus.

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How do taxonomists classify organisms?

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Taxonomists classify organisms based on physical characteristics, genetic information, and evolutionary relationships.

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What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

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The purpose of a dichotomous key is to help users identify unknown organisms by providing a series of choices based on observable traits.

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What is an example of a genus?

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An example of a genus is 'Geospiza', which includes various species of finches.

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What is an example of a species name?

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An example of a species name is 'fortis', as in 'Geospiza fortis', the medium ground finch.