Home > Science Fact Finder > Biology - How Many Different Organisms Have Been Identified By Biologists?

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Cite this Page
4. Tweet This

How many different organisms have been identified by biologists?

Almost 1.5 million different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms are currently known.

Sources: Wilson, Edward O. The Diversity of Life, p. 134.

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass

1. Terms And Classification
   1. What is the origin of the field of biology?
   2. How are animals and plants classified into groups and who began trie practice?
   3. What are the five kingdoms presently used to categorize living things?
   4. How many different organisms have been identified by biologists?
2. Evolution
   1. Which biological events occurred during the geologic time divisions?
   2. What is radiocarbondating?
   3. What is the significance of On the Origin of Species?
   4. How did humans evolve?
   5. When was the Scopes (monkey) trial?
   6. What is Batesian mimicry?
   7. What is a biological clock?
3. Genetics
   1. Who is generally known as the founder of genetics?
   2. What is the difference between DNA and RNA?
   3. What are the stages in the type of cell division called mitosis?
   4. What is genetic engineering?
   5. What organism has the largest number of chromosomes?
   6. Can human beings be cloned?
   7. Do all cells have a nucleus?
   8. What is DNA fingerprinting?
   9. How much DNA is in a typical human cell?
4. Bacteria, Viruses, And Fungi
   1. Who were the founders of modern bacteriology?
   2. Are there stone-eating bacteria?
   3. What is a virus and how does a vaccination work?
   4. What is the scientific study of fungi called?
   5. What is a lichen?