Scientific classification

Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. Modern classification has its roots in the system of Carolus Linnaeus, who grouped species according to shared physical characteristics. These groupings have been revised since Linnaeus to improve consistency with the Darwinian principle of common descent. Molecular systematics, which uses genomic DNA analysis, has driven many recent revisions and is likely to continue to do so. Scientific classification belongs to the science of taxonomy or biological systematics.

Related topics

• Binomial nomenclature
• Trinomial nomenclature
• Taxonomy
• International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
• List of chordate orders
• List of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names
• Phylogenetic tree
• Virus classification