Final answer:
The modern taxonomic system classifies organisms into eight hierarchical categories: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species, with domain being the broadest and species the most specific.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Modern Taxonomic System
The modern taxonomic system organizes organisms into hierarchical categories that become progressively more specific. These categories are:
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Starting from the broadest category, the domain, life is classified into three main groups: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Each domain encompasses multiple kingdoms, which are further divided into phyla, and then into classes, orders, families, genera, and ultimately individual species. This system is based on the work of Carl Linnaeus, who is credited as the inventor of the modern taxonomic classification system.
As the most specific taxon, a species represents a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. The scientific name of an organism usually includes its genus and species, following the binomial nomenclature convention.