The standard classification system used by biologists today groups and classifies organisms on the basis of similar physical traits. This system was first developed by Carl Linnaeus. At the time of his work, there were other methods for grouping organisms that were based on similar habitats, similar diets, or similar behaviors. Why is the Linnaen system still useful to biologists today?
A) This system is the simplest; the others are too complicated.
B) This system classifies based on shared traits and infers evolutionary relationships.
C) This system included all organisms found on Earth.
D) This system relies on Latin names that make the most sense to biologists.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Linnaean system is still useful because it groups organisms based on shared physical traits, which allows for inferences about their evolutionary relationships. This system has been updated and refined over time to reflect new discoveries and insights into the relationships between different groups of organisms. The other methods for grouping organisms based on habitat, diet, or behavior are still used in some contexts, but they do not provide the same level of information about the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

The Standard Classification System Used by Biologists Today Groups and Classifies