A biologist who classifies organisms based on their physical or cellular characteristics is known as a traditional taxonomist. These researchers are also attempting to deduce the evolutionary relationships between these organisms. A taxonomist will assign a Linnaean designation to a newly discovered organism, whether it is a plant, animal, or microorganism. That is, he or she will categorize it appropriately at the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species taxonomic levels. People use the genus and species designations for an organism when referring to its scientific name, such as the well-known name for a dog, Canis familiaris.
Over the years, taxonomic classification has been accomplished in a variety of ways. Biotechnology was limited in the early days of formal taxonomy, so scientists had to classify organisms solely on the basis of observable physical characteristics. Taxonomists began classifying organisms into groups represented by the branches of an evolutionary tree after the development of evolutionary theory in the mid-nineteenth century. In an evolutionary sense, species that live on branches close to each other are closely related, whereas species that live on branches far apart are only distantly related.
Phylogenetic relationships are the relationships indicated by the positions of organisms on the evolutionary tree. Phylogenetic relationships can now be determined more precisely thanks to scientists’ ability to sequence deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) within the cells of organisms. This method of analysis produced more accurate evolutionary trees than those developed by taxonomists based solely on anatomy. Phylogenetic relationships are further defined and refined using embryology, serology, and immunology techniques.
A four-year degree in a field of biology, usually microbiology, zoology, or botany, is required to become a taxonomist. Because taxonomists tend to specialize within certain kingdoms, the specific field chosen would depend on the type of taxonomist the student wishes to become. That is, no single taxonomist will be able to classify new species across all kingdoms of life. For example, the student could pursue a career as a plant or animal taxonomist. To become a practicing and respected taxonomist, graduate studies in classification methodologies are frequently required.
The term taxonomy has recently been applied to professions other than biological systematists. Military or economic taxonomists may be mentioned. These are simply people who classify military or economic aspects in the same way that biological taxonomists classify organisms.