Biological Classification- A Crash Course for NEET/AIIMS

HARSHA COACHING ONLINE

Do you understand the meaning of classification? Classification basically is the arrangement of things in taxonomic groups in accordance with the observed similarities. It helps in understanding the group as a whole with simple ease. Now, here we’ll discuss with you the biological classification and how it has simplified things for us. Biological classification is the process by which scientists group-living organisms. Organisms are classified based on how similar they are. Historically, the similarity was determined by examining the physical characteristics of an organism but modern classification uses a variety of techniques including genetic analysis. Organisms are classified according to a system of seven ranks:

1. Kingdom

2. Phylum

3. Class

4. Order

5. Family

6. Genus

7. Species

For example, the honey bee (Apis mellifera) would be classified in the following way:

1. Kingdom = Animalia

2. Phylum = Arthropoda

3. Class = Insecta

4. Order = Hymenoptera

5. Family = Apidae

6. Genus = Apis

7. Species = Apis mellifera
   Species names are always written including the Genus in either full or abbreviated, for example, Apis mellifera or A. mellifera respectively.