image1.emf
image1.emfUMUC Biology 102/103
Lab 6: Taxonomy
INSTRUCTIONS:
· On your own and without assistance, complete this Lab 6 Answer Form electronically and submit it via the Assignments Folder by the date listed on your Course Schedule (under Syllabus).
· To conduct your laboratory exercises, use the Laboratory Manual that is available in the WebTycho classroom (Reserved Reading or provided by your instructor) or at the eScience Labs Student Portal. Laboratory exercises on your CD may not be updated.
· Save your Lab6AnswerForm in the following format: LastName_Lab6 (e.g., Smith_Lab6).
· You should submit your document in a Word (.doc or .docx) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) for best compatibility.
Experiment 1: Classification of Common Objects
Questions
1. Did you find that the items grouped together as you worked down the flow chart had similar characteristics in terms of their appearance? What about function?
2. Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have asked? What objects would be grouped together with your system?
3. Pick 10 household items (e.g. spoon, book, paper clip, etc.) and design a taxonomic classification system to categorize them, similar to the one in Figure 2.
4. Can you devise a different classification system for the objects used in this experiment that would distinguish each in as many, or fewer steps?
Experiment 2: Classification of Organisms
Table 2: Key Characteristics of Some Organisms
Organism
Kingdom
Defined Nucleus
Mobile
Cell Wall
Photosynthesis
Unicellular
E. coli
✔
✔
Protozoa
✔
✔
✔
✔
Mushroom
✔
✔
Sunflower
✔
✔
✔
Bear
✔
✔
Questions
1. Did this series of questions correctly organize each organism? Why or why not?
2. What additional questions would you ask to further categorize the items within the kingdoms (hint: think about other organisms in the kingdom and what makes them different than the examples used here)?
3. Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have asked?
TYPE YOUR FULL NAME:
Is the object cylindrical or round?
No
Yes
1.
Figure 2: Experiment 1: Classification of Common Objects Flow Chart
Start
6.
2.
No
Yes
Yes
Does the object have more than one hole?
8.
No
Yes
9.
Is the object used for writing?
Is the object longer than 5 cm?
7.
Yes
No
No
Yes
4.
5.
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
3.
Yes
Yes
Is the object smooth on the outside (no angles)?
No
Is there a hole in or near the center of the object?
Is the object metal?
Is there permanent ink on the object?
Does the organism have a defined nucleus?
Figure 3: Experiment 2: Classification of Organisms Flow Chart
Start
Yes
No
Kingdom:
Bacteria
Does the organism perform photosynthesis?
Is the organism mobile?
No
Yes
Kingdom:
Protist
No
Yes
Kingdom:
Animal
Does the organism have a cell wall?
No
Yes
Kingdom:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Plant