CHAPTER 2 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Biological classification is the scientific method of grouping organisms based on similarities and
differences. The Five Kingdom Classification was proposed by R.H. Whittaker (1969) and is
based on cell structure, mode of nutrition, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships.
1. Kingdom Monera (Prokaryotic organisms)
Characteristics
● Unicellular, prokaryotic organisms (no membrane-bound organelles or nucleus).
● Cell wall present (made of peptidoglycan in bacteria).
● Reproduction: Asexual (binary fission, budding), Genetic recombination (conjugation,
transformation, transduction).
● Nutrition: Autotrophic (photosynthetic, chemosynthetic) or heterotrophic (saprophytic,
parasitic).
● Some bacteria have flagella for movement.
Classification of Monerans
1. Archaebacteria (Ancient bacteria)
○ Live in extreme environments (high salt, high temperature, methane-producing).
○ Lack peptidoglycan in their cell wall.
○ Examples: Methanogens, Halophiles, Thermoacidophiles.
2. Eubacteria (True bacteria)
○ Have peptidoglycan in the cell wall.
○ Some are photosynthetic (Cyanobacteria like Nostoc, Anabaena).
○ Some fix nitrogen (Rhizobium in leguminous plants).
○ Disease-causing bacteria: Salmonella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
3. Mycoplasma
○ Smallest and simplest living organisms.
○ Lack a cell wall, making them resistant to antibiotics like penicillin.
○ Example: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (causes pneumonia).
2. Kingdom Protista (Eukaryotic unicellular organisms)
Characteristics
● Mostly unicellular, eukaryotic organisms.
● Have membrane-bound organelles and nucleus.
● Movement: Flagella, cilia, or pseudopodia.
● Reproduction: Asexual (binary fission, multiple fission), Sexual (syngamy, conjugation).
Classification of Protists
1. Chrysophytes (Golden algae, diatoms)
○ Cell walls contain silica, forming diatomaceous earth.
○ Examples: Diatoms, Desmids.
2. Dinoflagellates
○ Marine, photosynthetic, and have cellulose plates.
○ Bioluminescent species (Noctiluca).
○ Cause "Red Tides" (Gonyaulax).
3. Euglenoids
○ Lack a cell wall, have a protein-rich pellicle.
○ Can be autotrophic or heterotrophic.
○ Example: Euglena.
4. Protozoans (Animal-like protists)
○ Amoeboids – Amoeba (pseudopodia).
○ Flagellates – Trypanosoma (African sleeping sickness).
○ Ciliates – Paramecium (cilia for movement).
○ Sporozoans – Plasmodium (causes malaria).
3. Kingdom Fungi (Eukaryotic heterotrophs)
Characteristics
● Eukaryotic, multicellular (except Yeast – unicellular).
● Cell wall made of chitin.
● Heterotrophic – Saprophytic (decomposers), Parasitic, or Mutualistic.
● Reproduction:
○ Asexual – Fragmentation, spores (sporangiospores, conidia).
○ Sexual – Plasmogamy, karyogamy, meiosis producing spores.
Classification of Fungi
1. Phycomycetes (Rhizopus, Mucor).
2. Ascomycetes (Saccharomyces, Penicillium).
3. Basidiomycetes (Agaricus – mushroom, Puccinia – rust fungi).
4. Deuteromycetes (Alternaria, Colletotrichum).
4. Kingdom Plantae (Autotrophic multicellular
eukaryotes)
Characteristics
● Eukaryotic, multicellular, autotrophic (photosynthetic).
● Cell wall made of cellulose.
● Store food as starch.
● Life cycle: Alternation of generations (haploid gametophyte & diploid sporophyte).
Classification of Plantae
1. Algae (Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, Ulva).
2. Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts – amphibians of the plant kingdom).
3. Pteridophytes (Ferns, Selaginella – first vascular plants).
4. Gymnosperms (Pinus, Cycas – naked seeds).
5. Angiosperms (Flowering plants – Monocots & Dicots).
5. Kingdom Animalia (Multicellular heterotrophic
eukaryotes)
Characteristics
● Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic.
● Lack cell walls.
● Reproduce sexually, show complex organ systems.
Major Phyla
1. Porifera – Sponges (Sycon).
2. Cnidaria – Jellyfish (Aurelia), Coral (Physalia).
3. Platyhelminthes – Flatworms (Taenia, Planaria).
4. Nematoda – Roundworms (Ascaris).
5. Annelida – Segmented worms (Earthworm).
6. Arthropoda – Insects, Crustaceans (Prawn, Butterfly).
7. Mollusca – Soft-bodied (Octopus, Snail).
8. Echinodermata – Spiny-skinned (Starfish).
9. Chordata – Animals with a notochord (Humans, Fishes).
6. Viruses, Viroids, and Lichens
Viruses
● Acellular, non-living outside a host cell, but replicate inside host cells.
● Consist of DNA or RNA core and a protein coat (capsid).
● Examples:
○ DNA Virus – Adenovirus (common cold).
○ RNA Virus – HIV (AIDS), Influenza.
○ Bacteriophages attack bacteria.
Viroids
● Smallest infectious agents, circular RNA without a protein coat.
● Cause diseases in plants (Potato spindle tuber disease).
Lichens
● Symbiotic association between algae (photosynthetic partner) and fungus
(provides support & moisture).
● Bioindicators of air pollution.
● Examples: Cladonia, Parmelia.
Conclusion
● The Five Kingdom Classification is based on fundamental differences in cellular
structure and function.
● Monera includes prokaryotic organisms, while Protista serves as a bridge between
prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
● Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia form the higher multicellular organisms.
● Viruses, viroids, and lichens are unique entities that don't fit neatly into these
kingdoms.
Here are some mnemonics to help you easily remember the key points of Biological
Classification!
1. Kingdoms of the Five Kingdom Classification
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Mnemonic:
"My Pet Frog Plays Around"
(Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia)
2. Classification of Kingdom Monera
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Mnemonic:
"AM-E" (Sounds like "Amy")
(A – Archaebacteria, M – Mycoplasma, E – Eubacteria)
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To remember types of Archaebacteria:
"My Hairy Toad"
(M – Methanogens, H – Halophiles, T – Thermoacidophiles)
3. Types of Protists
👉
Mnemonic:
"Can Dogs Even Play Properly?"
(C – Chrysophytes, D – Dinoflagellates, E – Euglenoids, P – Protozoans, P – Plasmodium)
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To remember the Protozoans:
"A Fat Cute Pig"
(A – Amoeboid, F – Flagellates, C – Ciliates, P – Sporozoans)
4. Classes of Fungi
👉
Mnemonic:
"People Always Buy Donuts"
(P – Phycomycetes, A – Ascomycetes, B – Basidiomycetes, D – Deuteromycetes)
To remember examples:
👉
👉
● Phycomycetes: "Rhino Must Dance" (Rhizopus, Mucor, Dictyostelium)
● Ascomycetes: "Sacred People Ask Neighbors" (Saccharomyces, Penicillium,
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Aspergillus, Neurospora)
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● Basidiomycetes: "Agar Plate Rusts" (Agaricus, Puccinia, Ustilago)
● Deuteromycetes: "Alone Can Cry" (Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Cercospora)
5. Major Plant Divisions
👉
Mnemonic:
"All Boys Prefer Gym And Apples"
(A – Algae, B – Bryophytes, P – Pteridophytes, G – Gymnosperms, A – Angiosperms)
6. Major Animal Phyla (In order of evolution)
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Mnemonic:
"Purple Cows Prefer Nice Apples And Mangoes Every Christmas"
P – Porifera
C – Cnidaria
P – Platyhelminthes
N – Nematoda
A – Annelida
A – Arthropoda
M – Mollusca
E – Echinodermata
C – Chordata
👉
For Chordata Subphyla:
"Pony Cried Very Hard"
(P – Protochordata, C – Cephalochordata, V – Vertebrata, H – Hemichordata)
7. Components of a Virus
👉
Mnemonic:
"Cats Read Poetry"
(C – Capsid, R – RNA/DNA, P – Protein coat)
👉
To remember types of viruses based on nucleic acids:
"Double H & Single PR"
● DNA viruses: Herpesvirus, Hepatitis B virus
● RNA viruses: Poliovirus, Rabies virus
8. Characteristics of Lichens
👉
Mnemonic:
"Fungal Algae Lives Together"
(F – Fungal partner, A – Algal partner, L – Lichen, T – Together as symbiotic organisms)