Classification Techniques
Chapter 13: Classification

The varieties and differences among objects make sorting and classifying difficult. In order to simplify this process, taxonomists have devised a system to classify organisms. You can try your hand at developing a method of classification if you…

Try This

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1. Select a kitchen drawer that contains miscellaneous objects
2. Make a list of every object in the drawer.
3. Divide the objects on your list into two or three large groups based on a common characteristic.
4. Divide the objects in each large group into smaller groups.
5. Continue dividing the objects into smaller groups until there is only one or two objects in each group.

Analyze Your Results

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1. What characteristics did you use to divide the objects into several large groups?
2. What taxonomic category may be represented in your first grouping?
3. What characteristics did you use to divide the large groups into sub-groups? What taxonomic categories may be represented by these sub-groups?

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