Domain_(biology)

Superdomain redirects here.

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The hierarchy of biological classification\'s major eight taxonomic ranks. Life is divided into domains, which are subdivided into further groups. Intermediate minor rankings are not shown.

In biological taxonomy, a domain (also superregnum, superkingdom, or empire) is the highest taxonomic rank of organisms, higher than a kingdom. Domain (or its synonyms) is the most inclusive of these biological groupings. Its divisions are Archaea, Eubacteria and Eukaryota. The arrangement of taxa reflects the fundamental evolutionary differences in the genomes. There are several modern alternative domain classifications of life. Among them are:

• The two-empire system or Superdomain system, with top-level groupings of Prokaryota (or Monera) and Eukaryota empires.
• The six-kingdom system with top-level groupings of Protista, Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

and the most recent,

• The three-domain system of Carl Woese, introduced in 1990, with top-level groupings of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukaryota domains.

As these groupings depend primarily on the analysis of genetic sequence data and cladistics, additional proposed arrangements are to be expected.

See also

• Systematics
• Cladistics
• Phylogenetics
• Taxonomy

v • d • e Taxonomic ranks
Domain or				Magnorder
Superkingdom	Superphylum/Superdivision	Superclass		Superorder	Superfamily			Superspecies
Kingdom	Phylum/Division	Class		Order	Family	Tribe	Genus	Species
Subkingdom	Subphylum	Subclass	Cohort	Suborder	Subfamily	Subtribe	Subgenus	Subspecies
Branch	Infraphylum	Infraclass	Legion	Infraorder		Alliance		Infraspecies
	Microphylum	Parvclass		Parvorder

Pnemonic for the major headings of taxonomic classification

Life Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
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