Introduction Part 2: Classification and the Scientific Method

As with all textbooks, the chapters in my 2-inch-thick book are extremely long (and also particularly dull). Never the less, we shall prevail! The rest of the Introduction is dedicated to the explanation of the methods used by scientists to organize the many different forms of life on this planet, as well as explain a little bit about how scientists do their work.

Classification

In the world there are trillions of animal and plant species, not to mention the many bacteria species that are living alongside us. In order to keep track and organize the many different organisms in the world, scientists developed a system used to classify each species. This system is called Taxonomy, and we just might have heard about it before. In it there are seven levels, and we'll go over them here:

• Kingdoms
• Phylum (or Division)
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genius
• Species

The farther down the list we go, the more specific the Taxonomy system gets. First, the Kingdoms. While we read up on them we can also go over some examples. Why? It's because we think examples are great! *glares at textbook which lacks considerable amount of examples*

•  Archaebacteria - Also known as just Archae, these are incellular organisms (they have only one cell). Archae have no cellular nucleus and are able to survive in extreme environments such as active volcanoes and sulfur springs. There are not many organisms classified under this kingdom.

Methanogens - These one-celled organisms are Classified under the Archaebacteria Kingdom.  They can appear as either a sphere (like in this picture) or in more of a "rod" shape. 

•  Eubacteria - Organisms classified under the Eubacteria Kingdom are also incellular, like those in the Archae Kingdom. Most bacteria are classified under this Kingdom (so chances are that if we're studying a type of bacteria, it's in the Eubacteria Kingdom). On top of being in this Kingdom, Bacteria are also classified as Decomposers (remember the previous lesson?); some decompose animals (and are therefore carnivores), others only decompose plants (and therefore are herbivores), and then we have those that aren't picky about what they eat, and so are classified as omnivores.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) - These bacteria are also one-celled (like the Methanogens) but are classified under the Eubacteria Kingdom. They are a well-known bacteria that can be found in the intestines of mammals and cause illness.

Protista (Protist) - The Protista Kingdom is probably the most diverse of all Six Kingdoms. Organisms classified under this Kingdom are not bacteria, animals, or plants. Most organisms in this Kingdom are incellular, however there are also organisms that are multicellular (contain multiple cells). Protists are found in most watery environments (such as ponds, lakes, oceans, etc).

 

Padriastrum - Green Algae is one of the most common organisms in the Protista Kingdom.

• Fungi - Like Bacteria, Fungi are Decomposers and break down dead organisms. Mold and Mushrooms are common forms of Fungi. Most organisms in the Fungi Kingdom are Multicellular.

Penicillium - Before it's used to create the antibiotic Penicillin, Penicillium is just one of the many molds in the Fungi Kingdom. 

• Plantae - All plants are organized into this Kingdom. All organisms in the Plantae Kingdom are multicellular and are capable of creating there own food (Photosynthesis). When plants are referred to in the Taxonomy system, Phylum is changed to Division.

Saint Paulia Violets - Also known as African Violets, these flowers are just one of the many different species of plants  in the Plantae Kingdom.

• Animalia - This is probably the one kingdom (other than the Plant Kingdom) that is most commonly known about. The Animal Kingdom is the largest out of all Six Kingdoms, containing more than a billion different species. All organisms classified under this Kingdom are multicellular.

Labrador Retrievers - Labrador Retrievers are dogs (obviously). There are many different kinds of dogs besides Labradors, and a dog is just one of the millions of species of animals throughout the world.

Every living thing is organized into each of these Kingdoms, but on top of that we have the rest of the Taxonomy system to help arrange all these living things even further. When the Taxonomy system is filled out, it looks like this:

• Kingdom - Animalia
• Phylum - Chordata
• Class - Reptilia
• Order - Squamata
• Family - Serpentes
• Genius - Calliophis

First, say hi to Mr. Coral Snake on the left. Now look to the right. There we can see a complete classification of Mr. Coral Snake, so that he will never forget who he is and so that we will never forget who he is either. Each classification (from Kingdom, all the way to Genius) is used so that scientists can be as specific as possible. Unlike my textbook, who so lovingly left me hanging here, we'll go over what each of the classifications represent... Unfortunately we've looked back and seen how very long this post is getting, and how little time we have left for our beloved Science Journal today, so instead we will promise to get back to this in a future post. Now, onto the next topic!

Scientific Method

We might have once thought that scientists are allowed to jump from one subject to another, ask whatever questions might occur to them, and just play around with all that cool equipment they've got in their laboratories. This is not the case! Just like with the classification of organisms, scientists also have an organization in the way they work. First comes a question, any question (so long as it is on the topic at hand and not about something random like "who wants coffee?"). This question takes hold, and soon an observation is conducted; the scientists observe in order to gain ground on how to get the answer to their question. Once some data has been gathered, a hypothesis (which is "an educated statement that explains the observations up to a point") is made. Experiments are then conducted in order to prove the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is proven wrong by the experiments, then a new hypothesis is made and more experiments follow. This goes on until the scientists have finally created a hypothesis that is valid; the hypothesis becomes a Theory. A theory is the closest thing you can come to the truth without having enough proof to make it a Law. For example, Newton's First Law (an object in motion stays in motion, and an object in rest stays in rest, until a force acts against it) is a Law because all evidence shows it being the absolute truth. Making a theory a Law is the final step in the Scientific Method. Everything in Science is completely organized, from Classification to the Scientific Method. 

Well, that finishes up the lovely Introduction in my lovely textbook. Now, what's next? *goes to have lunch and do some more Biology reading*