Systematics

Systematics is the study of the diversification of living forms, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees (synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic trees, phylogenies). Phylogenies have two components: branching order (showing group relationships) and branch length (showing amount of evolution). Phylogenetic trees of species and higher taxa are used to study the evolution of traits (e.g., anatomical or molecular characteristics) and the distribution of organisms (biogeography). Systematics, in other words, is used to understand the evolutionary history of life on Earth.

History

The term "systematics" is derived from the Latin word "systema", which means systematic arrangement of entities. The concept of systematics has been in use since the 19th century, and it has evolved over time to incorporate new information and concepts.

Branches of Systematics

Systematics is divided into three major branches: Taxonomy, Phylogenetics, and Evolutionary Biology.

• Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms. It is usually based on the principle of binomial nomenclature, which assigns each species a two-part Latinized name.

• Phylogenetics is the study of the evolutionary relationships among species. It uses molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices to construct a "tree of life".

• Evolutionary Biology is the study of the origin and descent of species, as well as their change over time. It incorporates genetics, ecology, and paleontology, among other disciplines.

Methods

Systematics uses data from DNA, RNA, and proteins to infer relationships between organisms. It also uses morphological data, which can be quantitative or qualitative. The data is analyzed using computational and statistical methods.

Importance

Systematics is crucial for understanding biodiversity and the evolutionary processes that generate it. It provides a framework for organizing biological information, predicting future discoveries, and addressing questions about the origin, maintenance, and conservation of biodiversity.

See also

• Cladistics
• Phylogenetic nomenclature
• Evolutionary taxonomy
• Numerical taxonomy
• Phenetics

References

Systematics Resources
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