Tracing the Three Domains of Life: A Systematic Journey Through Biological Classification
- By Farin Khatoon The vast diversity of life on Earth—ranging from microscopic archaea to towering redwood trees—demands a systematic framework to study, understand, and communicate about organisms. Biological classification, also known as taxonomy, offers that structure. Over the centuries, several eminent scientists have contributed to its evolution, culminating in the Three-Domain System that underpins modern biology. This academic blog explores the key milestones, classification systems, and the enigmatic non-cellular entities—viruses, bacteriophages, viroids, and prions—that challenge the traditional boundaries of life. A Historical Timeline of Classification Systems 📍 Aristotle (384–322 BCE) The earliest documented attempt at classifying living organisms came from Aristotle, who grouped animals based on their habitat—land, water, or air. Though rudimentary, his approach laid the foundation for later classification systems. 📍 Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778) Often calle...
