T’keyah Chandler

July 14, 2009

Group A

Classification is basically grouping things based on function, traits and characteristics. Classification is simply a way to uncomplicated things. Two men by the name of Aristotle and Carolous Linnaeus came up with two different systems to try and divide organisms. Classification has been around since 384 BC and now we’re going to find out how classification all started.

Aristotle was born during the 4th century BC (384 to 322 BC). Aristotle was a Greek philosopher. He divided organisms into two groups’ plants and animals. He also divided animals into groups [blood and bloodless], [flying, walking and swimming]. Aristotle’s system or process of divided organisms was used until the 1600s due to his system would not be able to be used on all animals. For example he had a group that divided animals by rather they can walk, fly or swim and a duck can do all three.

Carolous Linnaeus was born during the 18th century. He was a Swedish scientist and he designed a system called the binomial nomenclature, and the way his system works is divide plants and animals according to their similarities in form. He divided living things into two kingdoms. Carolous Linnaeus also designed a system of naming organisms called binomial nomenclature. Carolous Linnaeus system is still used today however we use a 5 kingdom system instead of a two kingdom system. Those 5 kingdoms are Anamilia, Planate, Fungi, Protista, and Monera discovered by Whitaker in 1969.

Protists were first discovered by Brinst Hackle in 1866. Protists can be both good and bad organism’s to the earth. Some types of Protists are responsible for a range of serious human diseases. Many protists also give off oxygen. Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms.

Classification is the broad yet specific breakdown of something into a group to get a better understanding of something.