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Dictionary » P » Phylum

Phylum

Definition

noun, plural: phyla or phylums

(1) A taxonomic rank at the level below Kingdom and above Class in biological classification, especially of animals.

(2) A group of Classes with similar distinctive characteristics.


Supplement

Examples: Class Mammalia (mammals), Class Aves (birds) and Class Ascidiacea (sea squirts) all belong to Chordate Phylum, which is a group of animals that have notochords at some time in their life cycle. Aside from Chordata, other well known phyla are the Mollusca, Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Arthropoda and Echinodermata, which all belong to Kingdom Animalia.


Word origin: New Latin ph[ymacr]lum, from Greek phūlon, class.

Compare: division.
See also: taxonomy.


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Re: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is

Yes it is hard when we look at them as a species, but at a cellular level it is a mistake no matter how you define it. I guess you have a point there.

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by alextemplet
Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:51 pm
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is
Replies: 11
Views: 208

Re: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is

it's hard to call that a mistake when it helps them survive so well Yes it is hard when we look at them as a species, but at a cellular level it is a mistake no matter how you define it.

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by futurezoologist
Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:13 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is
Replies: 11
Views: 208

Re: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is

after reading your reply it seemed like you are saying that natural selection is responsible for speciation Yes But from what I have been seeing in computer models that produce information increase speciation is inherent to the molecular mechanism and would still occur where there is no selection a...

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by futurezoologist
Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:46 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Biologists cannot tell us what a species or phylum is
Replies: 11
Views: 208

Any SOLID arguments against evolution?

... in some cases, whole orders or classes. One by one, these are being shown as well. What's next? Retreating to classifying a "kind" as a phylum or kingdom? The beauty of this plan, is that every time new evidence comes to light, you can simply change your definition and claim your theory ...

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by alextemplet
Mon May 25, 2009 3:52 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Any SOLID arguments against evolution?
Replies: 100
Views: 1605

Natural selection is proven wrong

... For example, flies have been made to grow legs where their antennae should be by modifying their Hox genes. Given that the definition of "phylum" can be reduced to basically a body-plan, the development and subsequent mutation and diversification of these genes controlling an animal ...

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by alextemplet
Sat May 02, 2009 7:28 pm
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Natural selection is proven wrong
Replies: 87
Views: 2486
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