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Order - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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In GCSE Biology, the term 'order' is a rank in the biological classification system (taxonomy) used to group organisms based on shared characteristics. It comes below class and above family in the hierarchy. For example, lions and tigers are both part of the order Carnivora, which includes animals that primarily eat meat. Understanding orders helps scientists organise living things and see how different species are related to one another through shared ancestry.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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