Summary and Main Ideas

Summary

You should now know the following:

• The definition of the biological classification system and hierarchical manner of grouping of living organisms based on similarities and differences.
• A brief history of major developments in the classification of organisms.
• The scientific method of naming of organisms using the binomial nomenclature. All organisms have only one scientific name but many common names.
• The division of organisms into prokaryotes (simple, unicellular) and eukaryotes (mostly multicellular) and the major differences between the two.
• The classification of living organisms into five major kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia and the unique characteristics of each kingdom.