Need for Classification

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As we know several millions of animals and plants are living on the earth. It is very difficult to identify any particular organism.  The classification has an essential part to play especially in assisting in the search process. By classifying things into different segments it enables us to retrieve things or information that we needed to look for, without the risk of consuming too much time. It is not possible for anyone to study all the organisms. When they are grouped together, it would become easier as the characteristics of a particular group of organism would apply to all the other individual organisms of that group. You can think of this classification similar to the classification of books based on the genres in a library. Without classification, it would be difficult to identify the book from the shelf.

Taxonomists are Scientists who are involved in classification. Though more than a million species of living organisms have been discovered and described so far and a large number of them are yet to be discovered. It has been estimated that there may be more than 30 million species of living organisms.

A systematic study on a given plant or animal can be made easier only when the organism is identified as one belonging to a particular group that has some specific characters. The number of plant and animal species that have been identified and described, exhibit a great deal of variation in their form, structure, mode of life and various other aspects. Unless the plants and animals are divided into discrete groups based on the differences and similarities between them, it becomes practically impossible to study the organisms.

What is classification?

The scientific practice of identifying, naming and grouping of living organisms is called classification. The branches deal with classification are taxonomy and systematics. Taxonomy deals with describing and naming organisms while systematics deals with grouping and arranging the described taxa into a hierarchical classification.

The following are uses of the scientific grouping of organisms.

• This makes the study of living organisms convenient.
• This helps in the specific identification of any given organism.
• The study of a few representatives from each distinct group helps to integrate the idea of life as a whole.
• This reveals the relationships among various groups of organisms.
• This provides information about plants and animals, which occur in specific geographical regions.
• This indicates the evolutionary relationship by establishing the gradually increasing complexity of form and structure in different groups of organisms.

Classification and Taxonomy

We need to group organisms into categories based on the observed characteristics of the organism in order to study the variety of living organisms and their common characteristics. When we say animals or insects, we are able to quickly associate the characteristics of organisms within that group. The scientific term for these categories is called as ‘taxa’. Based on the characteristics of the organism, it is classified into multiple taxa. For example, German Shepherd belongs to ‘animal; taxa as well as ‘mammal’ taxa and ‘dog’ taxa. This process of classification into taxa is called a taxonomy.

The basis of modern taxonomic studies mainly focuses on the external and internal structure of an organism, cell structure, development process.

Taxonomy = Characterization + Identification + Classification + Nomenclature

Before this system, our ancestors used to classify animals based on their use as they were depending heavily on them for food, clothing, and shelter. They established a process of studying relationships among organisms called “systematics”. This was later extended by Linnaeus with classification, identification, and nomenclature. In fact, the book published by Linnaeus was called “Systema Naturae”. Systema is the Latin word which refers to the systematic arrangement of organisms.

Systems of Classification

Placing organisms into groups based on the Identification of differences among them is called classification. The grouping based on the most significant features and the relationship of organisms is called biological classification.

The first biological classification was proposed by Aristotle. He divided plants according to their size into herbs, shrubs, and trees. He classified animals into two groups based on the presence of RBC(Red Blood Cell).

Artificial System

1. Classification is not based on the relationship among plants.
2. Based on one or two morphological characters of the organisms.
3. Does not give any idea of origin and evolution of different organism
4. Characteristics chosen were for sake of convenience only

Example: Linnaean system

Natural System

1. Classification is based on the natural relationship between plants.
2. Based on one or more natural characters.
3. Characters chosen were permanently retained sexual or vegetative characters.
4. Does not give any idea of origin and evolution of different organisms, but gives some idea on their natural relationship.

Example: Bentham and Hooker’s system.

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Concepts under Need for Classification topic

Classification

Identification

Taxonomy

Nomenclature

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