Biology STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) Practice Test

What is the science of naming and classifying organisms called?

1. Taxonomy

2. Phylogenetics

3. Ecology

4. Biogeography

The correct answer is: Taxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms is called taxonomy. This field of biology involves the identification, naming (nomenclature), and grouping (classification) of living organisms based on shared characteristics and genetic relationships. Taxonomy helps scientists organize biological diversity, making it easier to study and communicate about species and their relationships with one another. Each organism is classified into hierarchical categories such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species, which reflects its evolutionary relationships and characteristics. For instance, humans are classified as Homo sapiens within the family Hominidae, demonstrating our place in the biological classification system. While phylogenetics focuses on the evolutionary relationships among species, analyzing the branching patterns of evolution, it relies heavily on taxonomy for the classification of organisms. Ecology studies the interactions between organisms and their environment, and biogeography investigates the distribution of species and ecosystems across geographical areas. These fields are distinct from taxonomy, which is specifically concerned with classification.