Final answer:
The Linnaean system of taxonomic classification organizes living organisms into a hierarchical structure of taxa, including domains, kingdoms, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species, with each level representing a more specific grouping.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hierarchical Structure of Biological Classification
The taxonomic classification system, also known as the Linnaean system, is used to organize living organisms into a hierarchical structure. Starting from broad categories, it narrows down to very specific ones.
The hierarchy begins with three large categories called domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. Within each domain is a kingdom, followed by more specific categories in this order: phylum, class, order, family, genus, and finally species. For example, humans belong to the domain Eukarya, the kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Mammalia, order Primates, family Hominidae, genus Homo, and species sapiens.
Each level of this classification system is called a taxon, with each subsequent level representing a more specific grouping, narrowed down from very general characteristics to very specific ones. This allows scientists to classify organisms in a consistent and universal manner.