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Module 4 – Biodiversity,
evolution and disease

4.2.2 Classification and

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Module 4 Biodiversity, evolution and disease
4.2.2 Classification and Evolution
1 (a) the biological classification of species
(b) the binomial system of naming species and the
1
advantage of such a system
(c) (i) the features used to classify organisms into the five
2 kingdoms: Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae,
Animalia
(c) (ii) the evidence that has led to new classification
3 systems, such as the three domains of life, which clarifies
relationships
4 (d) the relationship between classification and phylogeny
(e) the evidence for the theory of evolution by natural
5
selection
6&7 (f) the different types of variation
(g) the different types of adaptations of organisms to their
8
environment
(h) the mechanism by which natural selection can affect
9
the characteristics of a population over time
(i) how evolution in some species has implications for
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human populations
HSW1, HSW4, HSW5, HSW6, HSW7, HSW 8, HSW9,
1-9
HSW11, HSW12
7&9 M0.3, M1.2, M1.3, M1.6, M1.7, M1.10
(a) Outline the biological classification of species.
To include the taxonomic hierarchy of kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus
and species AND domain.
(b) Describe the binomial system of naming species and the advantage of such a
system.
(c) (i) Describe the features used to classify organisms into the five kingdoms:
Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.
To include the use of similarities in observable features in original classification.
(ii) Describe the evidence that has led to new classification systems, such as the three
domains of life, which clarifies relationships.
To include the more recent use of similarities in biological molecules and other
genetic evidence AND details of the three domains and a comparison of the kingdom
and domain classification systems.
(d) Describe the relationship between classification and phylogeny.
Cladistics and phylogenetic definition of species not covered at AS level.
(e) Describe the evidence for the theory of evolution by natural selection.
To include the contributions of Darwin and Wallace in formulating the theory of
evolution by natural selection AND fossil, DNA (only genomic DNA at AS level) and
molecular evidence.
(f) Outline the different types of variation.
To include intraspecific and interspecific variation AND the differences between
continuous and discontinuous variation, using examples of a range of characteristics
found in plants, animals and microorganisms AND both genetic and environmental
causes of variation.
An opportunity to use standard deviation to measure the spread of a set of data
and/or Student’s t-test to compare means of data values of two populations and/or
the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to consider the relationship of the data.
(g) Describe and explain the different types of adaptations of organisms to their
environment.
Anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations AND why organisms from
different taxonomic groups may show similar anatomical features, including the
marsupial mole and placental mole.
(h) Explain the mechanism by which natural selection can affect the characteristics
of a population over time.
To include an appreciation that genetic variation, selection pressure and
reproductive success (or failure) results in an increased proportion of the population
possessing the advantageous characteristic(s).
(i) Explain how evolution in some species has implications for human populations.
To include the evolution of pesticide resistance in insects and drug resistance in
microorganisms.
 TAXONOMY
Q1. The table below refers to four of the five taxonomic Kingdoms.

(a) Select features from the following list and write them in the appropriate features box on the table. Some
features may be used more than once, or may not be relevant. You should write three features in each box.
has eukaryotic cells
has prokaryotic cells
has cellulosic cell walls
has chitinous cell walls
autotrophic
heterotrophic
consists of hyphae
often unicellular or groups of similar cells
always multicellular
have nervous coordination [4]

(b) Select organisms from the following list and complete the table by placing them in the appropriate
examples box. Give two examples in each box.
Green algae
Penicillium
Ferns
Mushrooms
Bacteria
Amoeba
Malarial parasite
Dicotyledons
Mucor
Frog
Moss
Viruses
Tape worm
Spider [4]
/8
Q2. (a) (i) The following taxons are commonly used in the classification of organisms:
Species, Class, Order, Kingdom, Genus, Phylum and Family. Place the taxons into a correct sequence.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) State two differences between the Kingdom Fungi and the Kingdom Plantae.
1: ................................................................................................................................................................
2: ............................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(iii) State two differences between the Kingdom Protoctista and the Kingdom Prokaryotae.
1: ................................................................................................................................................................
2: ............................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(b) The following organisms all belong to the Class Insecta but belong to different Orders of that group.

(i) Suggest three features shown by insects A, B and C that are characteristic of the Class Insecta.
1: ................................................................................................................................................................
2: ................................................................................................................................................................
3: ............................................................................................................................................................ [3]
(ii) Suggest two features, which differ in each insect, which could be characteristic of different Orders.
1: ................................................................................................................................................................
2: ............................................................................................................................................................ [2]
(c) Organism B is a common ectoparasite of humans and other mammals, and can act as a disease vector.
(i) What is insect B?
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(ii) Suggest an adaptation that it possesses which enables it to transfer easily from host to host.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
(iii) Name a disease which it transfers to humans.
....................................................................................................................................................................... [1]
/13
Q3. Biologists have traditionally recognised three different subspecies of chimpanzee based on physical
characteristics, genetics and geography. Pan troglodytes troglodytes lives in Central Africa, Pan troglodytes
schweinfurthei lives in East Africa and Pan troglodytes verus lives in West Africa.
Recently, a small new population of chimpanzees living in southeastern Nigeria has come to the attention of
biologists. It is suspected that this small population make up a new subspecies. Genetic analysis of animals
for taxonomic purposes is usually carried out on mitochondrial DNA, using genetic fingerprinting and DNA
hybridisation studies.
In DNA hybridisation, purified DNA from two subspecies are heated to separate the strands, these are mixed
together and allowed to cool. As they cool the strands rejoin to form double helices, however, some helices
will be hybrid, consisting of a strand from each subspecies.
The strands in hybrid DNA separate at a lower temperature than those in single subspecies DNA. The more
divergent the two subspecies the greater the difference between the separation temperatures of the hybrid
and single species DNA.
The table below shows the difference between the separation temperatures of hybrid DNA and single
subspecies DNA for the various groups of chimpanzees.
(a) (i) Suggest why strands in hybrid DNA separate at lower temperatures than single subspecies DNA.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Suggest why separation temperatures show greater differences between less closely related subspecies.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(iii) Comment on the possible significance of the differences shown in separation temperatures shown in the
table.
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [3]
(b)(i) What features of genetic fingerprints are used in assessing affinities between organisms?
...........................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................................... [2]
(ii) Using information from the temperature separation data above, suggest a pair of subspecies or possible
subspecies which would probably:
1. show the greatest similarity in their DNA fingerprints.
............................................................................................................................................................... [1]
2. show the greatest diversity in their DNA fingerprints.
............................................................................................................................................................... [1]
/11
Q4. Below is a series of pictures representing changes in a population of cacti. Pictures 1 and 2 show what
happened when a deer came to eat, picture 3 shows the cacti a few weeks later (notice the flowers on the
right-hand cactus), and picture 4 shows the situation a few months later.

1 2

3 4

Recall that the three conditions listed below are necessary for natural selection to take place.
1. Variation in characteristics within the population: In picture 1, what is the main difference
between the cactus on the left and the cactus on the right?

2. Differences in survival and reproduction, fitness: Why would a deer be more likely to eat the
cactus on the left than the cactus on the right?

What effect does the deer's behavior have on the survival and reproduction of these two types of
cactus?

3. Heritability of characteristics from parent to offspring: The difference between the cacti is a
heritable characteristic (see picture 4).

Do you think that evolution by natural selection is occurring in this cactus population? Explain why or why
not.