Classifying Organisms into Groups

Organisms have been classified into groups for centuries, mainly to understand the immense diversity of life. The method is called “taxonomy.”
The primary tool for taxonomy in biology is the ‘binomial system’ created by Carl Linnaeus. Binomial nomenclature means every species has a two-part latin name. The first part is the genus and the second part represents the species.
The most accepted modern system is the ‘hierarchical classification system,’ which places organisms into a multilevel ‘hierarchy of ranks.’ The ranks are, from most inclusive to least inclusive: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
The acronym ‘Do Kids Play Catch On Freeways Generally Speaking?’ can be used to recall these ranks in order.
The three main domains in the modern classification system are Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, the last of which includes all animal and plant life.
Under the domain Eukarya, there are four major kingdoms we often speak of: Protists (simple eukaryotic organisms), Fungi, Plants, and Animals.
Species is the most basic rank. Two organisms belong to the same species if they can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Classification is not always clear cut due to organisms shared genetic heritage and possible evolutionary convergence. Debates exist over the classification of organisms but the principle of best fit is often applied, based on observable characteristics and DNA comparisons.
Mutations, adaptations and environmental pressures on organisms can also sometimes lead to new species in a process called ‘speciation.’
Understanding the classification of organisms helps in various fields like understanding dietary needs or medical properties of organisms, predicting their behaviour, and even helping in conserving biodiversity.