Question

Try to collect all the currently accepted meanings for the word 'species'. Discuss with your teacher the meaning of species in case of higher plants and animals on one hand, and bacteria on the other hand.

Answer 1

In biological terms, species is the basic unit of taxonomy. It can be defined as a group of similar organisms capable of interbreeding freely among themselves under natural conditions to produce fertile off springs.

Therefore, a group of similar individuals that are reproductively isolated from other group of individuals form a species.

Species can also be defined as group of individuals that share the same gene pool.

Answer 2

The meaning of species is -

The category where the organisms possessing same type of characters or features are grouped is known or called as species.

When we talk about higher animals and plants, one genus may have various species.

For example -

Panthera leo

Panthera tigris

Here, leo and tigris indicates the species.

The bacteria is of different shapes. And this feature helps to place in different categories.