Chapter 2: Biological Classification
1. Introduction
Biological Classification: Grouping organisms based on similarities and differences.
Aristotle: Earliest classification (plants and animals).
Two-Kingdom System: Proposed by Carl Linnaeus:
o Plantae: Includes all plants.
o Animalia: Includes all animals.
Limitations of Two-Kingdom System:
o Could not differentiate between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, unicellular and
multicellular organisms, or autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms.
2. Five-Kingdom Classification
Proposed by R. H. Whittaker (1969).
Based on:
o Cell structure.
o Mode of nutrition.
o Body organization.
o Reproduction and phylogenetic relationships.
Whittaker's Five Kingdoms
1. Monera:
o Organisms: Bacteria, blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), mycoplasma.
o Characteristics:
Prokaryotic, unicellular.
Cell wall present (except in mycoplasma).
Autotrophic (e.g., cyanobacteria) or heterotrophic.
2. Protista:
o Organisms: Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, diatoms.
o Characteristics:
Eukaryotic, unicellular.
Some have cell walls.
Autotrophic or heterotrophic.
3. Fungi:
o Organisms: Yeast, mushrooms, molds (e.g., Rhizopus).
o Characteristics:
Eukaryotic, multicellular (except yeast).
Cell wall made of chitin.
Heterotrophic (saprophytic or parasitic).
4. Plantae:
o Organisms: Algae, mosses, ferns, conifers, flowering plants.
o Characteristics:
Eukaryotic, multicellular.
Cell wall made of cellulose.
Autotrophic (photosynthetic).
5. Animalia:
o Organisms: All animals (sponges to humans).
o Characteristics:
Eukaryotic, multicellular.
No cell wall.
Heterotrophic.
3. Kingdom Monera
Includes bacteria and archaea.
Bacteria:
o Shapes: Cocci (spherical), Bacilli (rod-shaped), Spirilla (spiral-shaped), Vibrio
(comma-shaped).
o Reproduction: Binary fission (asexual), conjugation (sexual).
o Types:
Autotrophic: Photosynthetic (e.g., cyanobacteria) or chemosynthetic.
Heterotrophic: Saprophytic or parasitic.
Archaea:
o Found in extreme environments (e.g., hot springs, salt lakes).
o Types:
Methanogens (produce methane).
Halophiles (salt lovers).
Thermoacidophiles (survive in high temperature and acidity).
4. Kingdom Protista
Diverse group of unicellular eukaryotes.
Examples: Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, diatoms.
Classification:
o Chrysophytes: Diatoms and golden algae.
o Dinoflagellates: Marine, bioluminescent (e.g., Noctiluca).
o Euglenoids: Photosynthetic in light, heterotrophic in darkness (e.g., Euglena).
o Slime Molds: Saprophytic, form spores.
o Protozoans: Animal-like, heterotrophic (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium).
5. Kingdom Fungi
Eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms.
Body structure:
o Composed of filaments called hyphae.
o Network of hyphae forms mycelium.
Types:
o Saprophytic: Feed on dead organic matter.
o Parasitic: Depend on a host.
o Symbiotic: Form associations (e.g., lichens, mycorrhizae).
Classification:
o Phycomycetes: e.g., Rhizopus.
o Ascomycetes: e.g., Saccharomyces (yeast), Penicillium.
o Basidiomycetes: e.g., Mushrooms.
o Deuteromycetes: e.g., Alternaria (imperfect fungi).
6. Viruses, Viroids, and Lichens
1. Viruses:
o Acellular, non-living outside host cells.
o Structure:
Protein coat (capsid) and genetic material (DNA or RNA).
Examples: HIV, Influenza virus.
2. Viroids:
o Smaller than viruses.
o Consist of only RNA, no protein coat.
o Example: Potato spindle tuber viroid.
3. Lichens:
o Symbiotic association between algae (photosynthetic) and fungi (provides
structure).
o Indicators of air pollution.
7. Importance of Biological Classification
Helps in:
o Organizing knowledge about organisms.
o Understanding evolutionary relationships.
o Identifying and naming organisms systematically.