Taxonomy and

Systematics
Prepared by: JOSHUA O. SADIASA, LPT
 Through evolution, all
species are related to one
another, more or less
distantly.
 Structural and
Developmental
Characteristics and
Relatedness of DNA
Sequences
 Evidence of evolution
❖ Anatomy and Embryology
• Anatomical features shared between
organisms (including ones that are visible only
during embryonic development) can indicate
shared evolutionary ancestry.
• If a particular physical feature… is shared by
two or more animals, they may all have
inherited this feature from a common ancestor
 Evidence of evolution
❖ DNA evidence
• All living organisms share the same genetic
material (DNA)
• If the "same" gene is found in two animals, it
is because they inherited it from a shared
ancestor.
• In general, the more DNA similarities between
the two species in homologous genes, the more
closely related the species is.
● The relationship between species can be determined
most accurately by comparing the results of gel
electrophoresis of the DNA from different species.
 Structural and
Developmental
Characteristics and
Relatedness of DNA
Sequences
BINOMIAL
NOMENCLATURE
●It is a two-naming system given by Carolus
Linnaeus.
● It consists of two names: the Genus and

the Species name.

Ex: Homo sapiens
(genus) (species)
● Can also be termed as the scientific name
TAXONOMIC SYSTEM
It is a hierarchical system since creatures are
categorized from species to kingdoms, which
are even more encompassing classifications.

Carl Woese- In 1981, he proposed a rank

(taxon) higher than a kingdom as domain.
TAXONOMIC SYSTEM
TAXONOMIC SYSTEM
● Dream
● Kong
● Pumasa
● Cause
● Our
● Family
● Gets
● Sweldo
Homo sapien
Dog Taxonomy
Dog Taxonomy
 Activity :
interpreting taxonomy
Answer TRUE or FALSE to the following statements. Use
the graphic to determine the answers.
1. The class Mammalia includes dogs, cats and rats.
2. A lion belongs to the genus Felis.
3. All mammals are primates.
4. Insects and lobsters are arthropods.
5. Dogs belong to the order Felidae.
6. All arthropods belong to the Class Insecta
7. All rodents belong to the phylum chordata
8. A fox belongs to the phylum Arthropoda.
9. Snakes belong to the phylum Reptilia.
10. All amphibians belong to the class reptilia.
11. All primates are mammals.
12. Lions belong to the class Mammalia
What’s the essence of?
● labeling
● sorting
● organizing
“A great relationship is about
two things: first, appreciating
the similarities and second,
respecting the differences.”
~ Anonymous
Phylogeny

Cladistics
What is phylogeny?
• Phylogeny is a kind of classification in which
organisms can be classified with the help of
their basic physical traits.
• Phylogeny is presented with the help of a
tree diagram known as a phylogenetic tree.
•The evolutionary history of a group of
organisms is called phylogeny from the
Greek word phylon which means “tribe”
and genesis which means “origin”.
•Biologists traditionally represent the
genealogy or an organism’s line of
evolutionary development in phylogenetic
trees, which are diagrams that trace
evolutionary relationships and connections
among organisms.
•A phylogenetic tree can be read like a map
of evolutionary history. Rooted phylogenetic
trees have single lineage at the base
representing a common ancestor.
FOUR GROUPS OF EVOLUTIONARY TREE

1.Monophyletic
2.Paraphyletic
3. Polyphyletic
4. soft polytomy.
 MONOPHYLETIC
Monophyletic group is also
called clade, which shows
one common ancestor, and
the all the descendants
share a common
characteristic, including
their most recent ancestors.
 PARAPHYLETIC
Paraphyletic group refers to
a group of organisms with
similar characteristics and
originated from one recent
common ancestor, but
shows different
characteristics from the
other descendants of the
recent ancestor.
 POLYPHYLETIC
Polyphyletic group
includes organisms that
originated from the same
ancient ancestors but
NOT related at all in terms
of their most recent
ancestors.
 SOFT POLYTOMY
Soft polytomy
indicates more than
two immediate
descendants.
Identify what group of evolutionary tree is illustrated
below.
What is cladistics?
• Cladistics is a classification
that represents phylogenetic
classification related to
evolutionary relationships.
• A cladogram is a
diagrammatic representation
that shows the relationship
of the closely related
organisms.
What is the difference between Cladogram and Phylogenetic Tree?
What is the relationship between
phylogeny and cladistics?

-Phylogeny deals with the historical

relationships of ancestors and
descendants. Cladistics helps Phylogeny
present a reconstructed evolutionary
relationship between descendants and
their most recent ancestors.
 CONSTRUCTING CLADOGRAMS
• Root – The initial ancestor common
to all organisms within the
cladogram
• Nodes – Each node corresponds to
a hypothetical common ancestor
that speciated to give rise to two
(or more) daughter taxa
• Outgroup – The most distantly
related species in the cladogram
which functions as a point of
comparison and reference group
• Clades – A common ancestor and
all of its descendants
The most obvious way to determine
the evolutionary relationship of
organisms (i.e. their phylogenetic
tree) is compare morphological
similarities.
However, it is not easy to construct
phylogenetic trees and there is often
controversy among systematists.
Some organisms that appeared
closely related in some respects, may
seem more distantly related in other
respects.
 Example
Characters Shark Bullfrog Kangaroo Human
Vertebrae X X X X
Two pairs of X X X
limbs

Mammary X X
glands

Placenta X
Create a Venn diagram and
cladogram.
 Create a cladogram.
Taxon Jaws Lungs Claws Gizzard Feathers Fur Mammary Keratinous
or nails glands scales
Lamprey - - - - - - - -
(outgroup)
Perch + - - - - - - -
Salamander + + - - - - - -
Lizard + + + - - - - +
Crocodile + + + + - - - +
Pigeon + + + + + - - +
Mouse + + + - - + + -
Chimpanzee + + + - - + + -
 ACTIVITY 2: DATA TABLE AND TAXA
Vertebrae Four Limbs Amniotic Egg Shells Hair/Fur
Egg
Fish YES NO NO NO NO
Frog YES YES NO NO NO
Lizard YES YES YES YES NO
Bird YES YES YES YES NO
Gorilla YES YES YES NO YES
Rodent YES YES YES NO YES
 ACTIVITY 2: DATA TABLE AND TAXA
Excellent Good Fair Poor
4 3 2 1
Correctness of All details of Most of the Some of the Details are
details the details are details are poorly
illustrations correctly correctly illustrated
are correct illustrated illustrated.
Completeness The illustration The illustration The illustration The illustration
of details contains all lacks a few lacks some lacks most of
the details details details the details
ACTIVITY 2: CLADOGRAM
What causes a branch in a Cladogram?

A new branch in a cladogram is given when a new

trait arises that sets apart those organisms from the
rest of the clade
What other types of evidence can be used to
elucidate the evolutionary relationship of
organisms?

(1)Examine paleontological (fossil) evidence of ancestors

(2)Concentrate on early developmental characteristics.
(3) Genetic data
Why Do Biologists Need Cladistics?

● Cladistics is useful for creating systems of

classification.
● Cladistics predicts the properties of
organisms.
● Cladistics helps to elucidate mechanisms of
evolution.