Test: Diversity in the Living World (NCERT) - NEET MCQ

Taxonomy (taxis-arrangement, nomos-law) is defined as the science dealing with identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms. The term taxonomy was given by de Candolle (1813).

Some important rules of binomial nomenclature are given as following:
(i) Biological names are either derived from Latin language or are Latinised.
(ii) The first word in a biological name represents the genus while the second word represents the species.
(iii) Both the words, in a biological name, when handwritten, are separately underlined, or printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin.
(iv) The generic epithet starts with a capital letter while, the specific epithet starts with a small letter. It can be illustrated with the example of Homo sapiens, Pisum sativum, Panthera tigris, Mangifera indica, etc.
(v) Name of the author appears after the specific epithet i.e., at the end of the biological name and is written in an abbreviated form, e.g., Mangifera indica line. It indicates that this species was first described by Linnaeus.

• First step in taxonomy is identification of the organism.
• Identification is the finding of correct name and place of an organism according to some approved system of classification.
• Manuals, floras, monographs, catalogues keys, etc. are various taxonomic aids, which are used the identification of an organism.
• Identification is follower by nomenclature and classification of organisms.

Objective and functions of classification include:
(i) Recognition and complete description of different species
(ii) Development of a system for easy identification of various species.
(iii) Formulating a scheme of hierarchial grouping of species on the basis of their similar or correlated characters. 
(iv) To establish relationships on the basis of resemblance and differences between organisms.

• The original scientific names were taken from Latin and Greek languages.
• New names are now derived either from Latin language or are latinised.
• This is because latin language is dead and therefore, it will not change in form or spellings with the passage of time.

Answer: a
Explanation: ICBN stands for International Code for Botanical Nomenclature. ICBN deals with the nomenclature of the plants. International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is responsible for the binomial; nomenclature of animals.

• A taxon is a taxonomic group or taxonomic unit of any ranking. Each category is referred to as a unit of classification.
• There are seven main taxonomic ranks: kingdom, phylum, division, class, order, family, genus, species.
   

​Hence, the correct option is 'd' i.e. 'a taxonomic group of any ranking'.

Linnaeus put forward an artificial system of classification which was mainly based upon morphological characters of plants.

Higher the category in biological classification, the greater is the difficulty of determining the relationship to other taxa at the same level.

Higher categories (like Kingdom, Phylum) include more diverse organisms.

Diverse characteristics make it harder to determine specific relationships.

Lower categories (like Genus, Species) are more specific and have clearer relationships.

Thus, the correct answer is: B: Greater, difficulty.

The term "Homo" in the scientific name "Homo sapiens" designates the genus of the species. In the binomial nomenclature system, the first part of the name refers to the genus, while the second part, "sapiens," specifies the species itself.