What is the Difference Between Taxonomy and Phylogeny?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Taxonomy and phylogeny are related but distinct concepts in the study of biological classification and evolutionary relationships. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Taxonomy is the science of classification, focusing on identifying, naming, and categorizing organisms based on shared features and characteristics. It involves organizing organisms into a hierarchical classification system, including Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Binomial nomenclature, developed by Carolus Linnaeus, is a system for naming species using a two-part scientific name consisting of the genus and specific epithet.
- Phylogeny is the study of evolutionary relationships between organisms. It aims to determine the evolutionary history of a species or group of related species by identifying characteristics that vary among species, such as morphological, chromosomal, molecular, behavioral, or ecological features. Phylogenetic studies often use genetic studies of species to discover evolutionary links.
Modern taxonomy is based on phylogeny, meaning that organisms should be grouped according to their evolutionary history and relatedness. Taxonomy seeks to produce a formal system for naming and classifying species, while systematization, a related process, focuses on determining the relationships between species. In summary, taxonomy is concerned with the classification of organisms, while phylogeny deals with the establishment of evolutionary relationships between organisms based on their characteristics.
Comparative Table: Taxonomy vs Phylogeny
Taxonomy and phylogeny are related concepts in the classification of organisms. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:
| Taxonomy | Phylogeny |
|---|---|
| Study of the identification and categorization of living creatures | Study of the evolutionary links between living species |
| Focuses on naming and classifying organisms based on shared characteristics | Focuses on the evolutionary history of a species or group of species |
| Does not reveal anything about the shared evolutionary history of organisms | Reveals the shared evolutionary history of organisms |
| Based on the accumulation of differences that reflect phylogeny | Inferred by identifying organismal features that vary among species, such as morphological, chromosomal, molecular, behavioral, or ecological characters |
| Produces a formal system for naming and classifying species to illustrate their evolutionary relationships | Determines the phylogeny, or evolutionary history, of a species or group of species |
In summary, taxonomy is the field of biology that classifies and names organisms based on their shared characteristics, while phylogeny deals with the evolutionary relationships between species. Both concepts are essential for understanding the diversity and organization of life on Earth.
- Ontogeny vs Phylogeny
- Taxonomy vs Systematics
- Taxonomy vs Classification
- Cladogram vs Phylogenetic Tree
- Ontology vs Taxonomy
- Taxon vs Clade
- Artificial Natural vs Phylogenetic System of Classification
- Phenetics vs Cladistics
- Dichotomous Key vs Taxonomic Key
- Nomenclature vs Classification
- Evolution vs Speciation
- Classification vs Binomial Nomenclature
- Genus vs Species
- Phylum vs Class
- Cladogram vs Dichotomous Key
- Anagenesis vs Cladogenesis
- Synapomorphy vs Symplesiomorphy
- Phylum vs Division
- Rooted vs Unrooted Phylogenetic Tree