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Biology for Advanced Level Secondary Schools
The process of grouping organisms based Coffea, making its classification
on their common or shared characteristics simple and less time consuming.
is called classification. For organisms to be
classified uniformly across the world, a set (c) Classification simplifies communication
of principles, procedures, and rules must be among taxonomists worldwide. This
observed. The principles of classification is because taxonomically an organism
organisms is summarised as follows:READING ONLY
were pioneered by Carolus Linnaeus and is assigned only one scientific name,
published in the 18 century in his book unlike the use of common names in
th
“Systema Naturae”. In that publication, which one species is named differently
a simple way of naming organisms was in different places. Zea mays is a
also explained. The science of classifying scientific name of maize. In America,
organisms is termed as taxonomy and maize is also known as corn while in
the scientist who deals with classifiction Britain corn is wheat, hence causing
of organisms is known as a taxonomist. confusion. However, Zea mays will
Taxonomy involves placing organisms only refer to maize worldwide.
into their respective groups and sub groups (d) It helps to show evolutionary
called taxa. relationship between organisms. The
classification of organisms is mostly
Importance of classification of based on evolutionary history and
organisms relationship among them. This makes
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The importance of classification of it easy to understand how organisms
are related interms of their evolution.
(a) It helps to reduce large number of A leopard (Panthera pardus) and
dissimilar organisms into small number lion (Panthera leo) which are both
of manageable groups of organisms classified under family Felidae
with more features in common so that and genus Panthera have a lot of
they can be studied easily. features in common. They have hairs,
mammary glands, and other common
(b) It makes easy to classify all known morphological features. It is therefore
organisms and predict the placement most likely that they share a common
of the yet to be discovered based on ancestor.
already known features. For example,
if a new plant species with flowers (e) Organisms grouped in the same taxon,
is discovered today it will be placed such as genus, normally have many
under division Angiospermophyta. common features. For example, all
Similarly, if it produces flowers, leaves, plant species under genus Coffea
berries and stems with stipules as resemble coffee plants in many aspects,
those of coffee plants; it will be placed such as leaf type, leaf arrangement on
under the coffee family Rubiaceae. stems, flower type, and stipules. This
Furthermore, if it has more features kind of grouping therefore simplifies
in common with Coffea arabica it description of organisms because
will definitely be placed under genus understanding of features of just one
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