Final answer:
Option (b), The systematic classification of organisms based on their relationships is called taxonomy, which includes organizing organisms into a hierarchical classification system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The systematic classification of organisms or entities based upon their relationship to one another is known as taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science of classifying organisms, encompassing the description, identification, naming, and classification of organisms into a hierarchical system.
This includes various levels of classification such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species, which are collectively referred to as taxa. The field of systematics is closely related, as it is the field of organizing and classifying organisms based on their evolutionary relationships to construct phylogenies, or evolutionary trees, which depict these relationships.
Carolus Linnaeus is a notable figure in the history of taxonomy, having developed the Linnaean system of classification that organized organisms based on shared physical traits. Today, however, classifications are informed by evolutionary relationships and shared ancestry, allowing scientists to create a more accurate reflection of the web of life through phylogenetic classification systems.
To summarize, the answer to the question is: b. Taxonomy. It is the science dedicated to the systematic categorization of living organisms, based on their shared characteristics and evolutionary heritage.