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Classification of Living Things

This ant is one of over 10 million different types of organisms on Earth. Scientists classify these life forms to help them study them.

Scientists believe that there are over 10 million different kinds of life forms, or species on Earth. Imagine trying to study and understand the lives, patterns, behaviors, and evolution of so many different kinds of organisms. In order to make their job easier, scientists classify living things into groups, based on how they are the same, and how they are different.

As an example, think of your Halloween candy. On Halloween night, after returning from trick or treating, what do you and your friends do? Many kids pour their candy out on the floor or bed, and begin separating the candy into piles based on how the candy items are the same, and how they are different.

Many children classify their halloween candy.

The chocolate goes into one pile, the smartees™ into another, the sugar daddies™ into yet another pile, until all the candies are in the appropriate place. Biologists do the same thing with life forms. Instead of dumping all the life forms on the floor, and placing them in piles, scientists write down which group each type of organism belongs to in books.

Biologists classify life forms to help them study life forms more easily.