THE CONCEPT OF CLASSIFICATION
Classification is the process of grouping organisms based on their similarities and differences. Organisms that are similar are placed in the same group. These similarities can be in terms of their evolutionary relationship or the way they carry out life processes such as feeding and reproduction. Organisms such as snails, orange trees, crocodiles, birds, lions and baobab trees belong to different groups.
The study of classification is called taxonomy.
A person who studies taxonomy is called a taxonomist.
IMPORTANCE OF CLASSIFICATION
i. It makes easier to study and identify living things.
ii. It helps to know the characteristics of different living organisms.
iii. It makes communication among biologists in the world easier.
iv. It helps us to understand how organisms are related in terms of evolutionary history.
v. It enables scientists to make predictions about characteristic of different organisms based on the characteristics of a group it belongs to.
For example, eagle and chicken are both birds, therefore if we know what the heart of a chicken looks like we can predict what the heart of an eagle looks like even if we have not seen it.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
There are two main types of biological classification systems namely;
1. Artificial system of classification
2. Natural system of classification
1. ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
Artificial system of classification is a system of classifying organisms based on few observable features of an organism. Artificial system of classification is based on easy, external and simple characteristics of an organisms for example, the presence of legs or wings.
Based on this; bees, birds and bat would be grouped together. Snakes, earthworms and snails would also be grouped together because they do not have legs or wings.
Artificial system classification also involves classifying organisms according to their size, how they move, where they live or what they eat.
ADVANTAGES/MERITS OF ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
i. It is easy to use. This is because it involves only one or few observable features.
ii. It takes short time to identify and classify organisms.
iii. It is stable. It does not change as a result of any new information.
iv. It does not require high skilled personnel. Therefore, it can be done by anybody because it does not need much knowledge.
v. It is less expensive. This is because it uses few observable features to group organisms.
DISADVANTAGES/DEMERITS OF ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
i. Similar organisms are placed into different groups. For example; human being and bat can be grouped in different groups.
ii. Unrelated organisms are placed in the same groups e.g. birds and bat can be grouped together because they resemble few features.
iii. It is less accurate, because it uses only few observable characteristics.
iv. It creates confusion among biologists from different parts of the world.
v. It provides only limited information about the organisms.
vi. It does not allow the prediction of information; hence limits more advancement in taxonomy.
Classification is the process of grouping organisms based on their similarities and differences. Organisms that are similar are placed in the same group. These similarities can be in terms of their evolutionary relationship or the way they carry out life processes such as feeding and reproduction. Organisms such as snails, orange trees, crocodiles, birds, lions and baobab trees belong to different groups.
The study of classification is called taxonomy.
A person who studies taxonomy is called a taxonomist.
IMPORTANCE OF CLASSIFICATION
i. It makes easier to study and identify living things.
ii. It helps to know the characteristics of different living organisms.
iii. It makes communication among biologists in the world easier.
iv. It helps us to understand how organisms are related in terms of evolutionary history.
v. It enables scientists to make predictions about characteristic of different organisms based on the characteristics of a group it belongs to.
For example, eagle and chicken are both birds, therefore if we know what the heart of a chicken looks like we can predict what the heart of an eagle looks like even if we have not seen it.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
There are two main types of biological classification systems namely;
1. Artificial system of classification
2. Natural system of classification
1. ARTIFICIAL SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
Artificial system of classification is a system of classifying organisms based on few observable features of an organism. Artificial system of classification is based on easy, external and simple characteristics of an organisms for example, the presence of legs or wings.
Based on this; bees, birds and bat would be grouped together. Snakes, earthworms and snails would also be grouped together because they do not have legs or wings.
Artificial system classification also involves classifying organisms according to their size, how they move, where they live or what they eat.
ADVANTAGES/MERITS OF ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
i. It is easy to use. This is because it involves only one or few observable features.
ii. It takes short time to identify and classify organisms.
iii. It is stable. It does not change as a result of any new information.
iv. It does not require high skilled personnel. Therefore, it can be done by anybody because it does not need much knowledge.
v. It is less expensive. This is because it uses few observable features to group organisms.
DISADVANTAGES/DEMERITS OF ARTIFICIAL CLASSIFICATION
i. Similar organisms are placed into different groups. For example; human being and bat can be grouped in different groups.
ii. Unrelated organisms are placed in the same groups e.g. birds and bat can be grouped together because they resemble few features.
iii. It is less accurate, because it uses only few observable characteristics.
iv. It creates confusion among biologists from different parts of the world.
v. It provides only limited information about the organisms.
vi. It does not allow the prediction of information; hence limits more advancement in taxonomy.