Genera in Science

In biological classification, a genus (plural: genera) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms. The first letter of the genus name is always capitalized. It is used to group species that are closely related and share a common ancestor.

Key Points to Remember

• Genus is a rank in the hierarchical classification of organisms.
• It is used to group closely related species.
• The name of a genus always starts with a capital letter.
• Example: Panthera is the genus that includes lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), and leopards (Panthera pardus).

Study Guide

To understand genera better, here are a few study guide questions:

1. What is a genus in biological classification?
2. How are genera used in grouping organisms?
3. Provide an example of a genus and the species it includes.
4. Why is the first letter of a genus name always capitalized?

Further Reading

If you want to delve deeper into genera and biological classification, you can explore resources on taxonomy and systematics.

[Genera] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• Diversity of lifeScience • Sixth Grade