What is the scientific process of naming and classifying organisms called?

The scientific process of naming and classifying organisms is known as taxonomy. This field encompasses the identification, naming, and categorization of organisms into hierarchical groups based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. Taxonomy is essential in biological sciences as it provides a standardized framework for biologists to communicate about species and understand their relationships to one another.

The importance of taxonomy extends beyond just naming species; it plays a critical role in biodiversity studies, conservation efforts, and understanding ecological interactions. Taxonomic classification typically includes several ranks, such as domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species, allowing scientists to organize the vast diversity of life in a coherent manner.

While botany is concerned specifically with the study of plants, ecology focuses on the interactions between organisms and their environment, and genetics deals with heredity and variation in living organisms. Therefore, these fields do not encompass the broader scope of naming and classifying all organisms, making taxonomy the correct answer to the question.