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genus

Primary Information
Secondary Information

Definition

A genus is a taxonomic rank that is used to classify organisms. It is a group of closely related species that share a common ancestor. The members of a genus share many similarities, such as their body shape, their way of life, and their DNA.

The name of a genus is always capitalised and is usually based on the name of a typical species in the genus. For example, the genus of the domestic dog is Canis, which is based on the Latin word for "dog."

Genera are often grouped together into families. For example, the genus Canis is part of the family Canidae, which also includes wolves, coyotes, and foxes.

The study of genera is called taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms.

How can the word be used?

The genus "Canis" includes dogs, wolves, and coyotes.

genus

Different forms of the word

Noun: genus.

Adjective: generic.

Verb: to generalise.

Adverb: generically.

Etymology

The word "genus" comes from the Latin word "genus", which means "kind" or "race". The Latin word "genus" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "gen-", which means "to give birth".

Question

What is a genus?

AQA Science Exam Question and Answer

Question: What is a genus?

Answer:

A genus is a taxonomic rank that is used to classify organisms. A genus is a group of closely related organisms that share similar characteristics. For example, the genus "Homo" includes humans, chimpanzees, and bonobos.

The genus is one of the most important taxonomic categories. It is used to group together organisms that share a common ancestor and have similar characteristics. The genus is also used to give organisms a scientific name. The scientific name of an organism consists of two parts: the genus and the species. For example, the scientific name of a human is Homo sapiens.

The genus is a hierarchical taxonomic category. This means that it is nested within other taxonomic categories. The genus is nested within the family, which is nested within the order, which is nested within the class, and so on.

The genus is a very important concept in biology. It is used to organise the vast diversity of life on Earth into a logical system. The genus is also used to study the evolution of organisms. By comparing the genes and characteristics of organisms in different genera, scientists can learn about how organisms have changed over time.