Classification — Science definition
Organising organisms by shared ancestry, producing a branching tree rather than a ladder from simple to advanced.
Where it is taught
- Characteristics of Life & Biological Diversity — Scientific Inquiry & Diversity of Life, Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7
In use
Organising the variety that results is classification, and the deepest division is one you have already met.
Characteristics of Life & Biological Diversity
Questions using classification
Problem 1
Does a classification key by itself show ancestry?
Answer and explanation
Not necessarily. It identifies using chosen features; an ancestry claim requires evidence supporting inherited relationships.