CHAPTER 2 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
NCERT solution for class 11 biology Chapter 2 Biologicial Classification
The NCERT solutions for Class 11 Biology, Chapter 2. This NCERT solutions contains
questions, answers and explanations for the complete chapter 2. Here on Physics Wallah, you can
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questions.
1. Discuss how classification systems have undergone several changes over a period of
time?
Answer. Biological classification is the scientific procedure of arranging organisms in a
hierarchical series of groups and sub-groups on the basis of their similarities and dissimilarities.
Scientists have proposed different systems of classification which have undergone several
changes from time to time.
Earlier Aristotle proposed artificial system of classification, which divided animals and plants on
basis of habitat. E.g., Aquatic (fish, whale), terrestrial (e.g., reptiles, cattle) and aerial (e.g., bat,
birds). Then, natural system of classification was based on morphology^ anatomy, physiology,
reproduction, ontogeny, cytochemistry, etc. After natural system, organisms were classified on
basis of evolutionary relationships called phylogenetic system. It is based on cytotaxonomy,
chemotaxonomy, numerical taxonomy and cladistic taxonomy.
2. State two economically important uses of:
(a) Heterotrophic bacteria
(b) Archaebacteria
Answer.
(a) Heterotrophic bacteria
a) They act as decomposers and help in the formation of humus.
b) They help in the production of curd from milk.
c) Many antibiotics are obtained from some species of bacteria.
d) Many soil bacteria help in fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.
(b) Archaebacteria
a) Methane gas is produced from the dung of ruminants by the methanogens.
b) Methanogens are also involved in the formation of biogas and sewage treatment
3. What is the nature of cell-walls in diatoms?
Answer. The cell walls of diatoms are made of silica. Their cell wall construction is known as
frustule. It consists of two thin overlapping shells that fit into each other such as a soap box. When
the diatoms die, the silica in their cell walls gets deposited in the form of diatomaceous earth. This
diatomaceous earth is very soft and quite inert. It is used in filtration of oils, sugars, and for other
industrial purposes.
4. Find out what do the terms ‘algal bloom’ and ‘red-tides’ signify.
Answer.
Algal bloom
Algal bloom refers to an increase in the population of algae or blue-green algae in water, resulting
in discoloration of the water body. This causes an increase in the biological oxygen demand
(BOD), resulting in the death of fishes and other aquatic animals.
Red-tides
Red tides are caused by red dinoflagellates (Gonyaulax) that multiply rapidly. Due to their large
numbers, the sea appears red in colour. They release large amounts of toxins in water that can
cause death of a large number of fishes.
5. How are viroids different from viruses?
Answer. Viroids are the smallest known agent of infectious diseases that contain small single-
stranded RNA molecule. They lack capsid and have no proteins associated with them. Viroids
infect only plants. Whereas, viruses have genetic material surrounded by a protective coat of
protein or lipoprotein. The genetic material of viruses are of 4 types – double-stranded DNA,
double-stranded RNA, single-stranded DNA, single-stranded RNA. They infect both plants and
animals.
6. Describe briefly the four major groups of protozoa.
Answer. All protozoans are heterotrophs and live as predators or. parasites. They are be-lieved to
be primitive relatives of animals. They are classified into four groups on the basis of locomotory
organelles.
(i) Amoeboid protozoans : These organisms live in fresh water, sea water or moist soil. They
move and capture their prey by developing pseudopodia (false feet) as in Amoeba. Some of them
such as Entamoeba are parasites.
(ii)Flagellated protozoans : The members of this group are either free-living or parasitic. They
have flagella for locomotion. The parasitic forms cause diseases such as sleeping sickness e.g.,
Trypanosoma.
(iii)Ciliated protozoans : These are aquatic, actively moving organisms because of the presence
of thousands of cilia. They have a cavity (gullet) that opens to the outside ‘of the cell surface. The
coordinated movement of rows of cilia causes the water laden with food to be steered into the
gullet e.g., Paramecium.
(iv)Sporozoans: This includes diverse parasitic organisms that have an infectious spore¬like
stage in their life cycle. Locomotory organs are absent. The most notorious N . is Plasmodium
(malarial parasite) which
causes malaria which has a staggering effect on human population.
7. Plants are autotrophic. Can you think of some plants that are partially heterotrophic?
Answer. Some insectivorous plants like Drosera, Nepenthes, Utricularia are partially heterotrophic
plant. These plants are deficient in nitrogen content but are otherwise autotrophic. They, trap
various insects to obtain nitrogen from them. Rest, the food i.e., carbohydrate is manufactured by
themselves.
8. What do the terms phycobiont and mycobiont signify?
Answer. Phycobiont refers to the algal component of the lichens and mycobiont refers to the
fungal component. Algae contain chlorophyll and prepare food for fungi whereas the fungus
provides shelter to algae and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil. This type of relationship is
referred to as symbiotic.
9. Organise a discussion in your class on the topic – ‘Are viruses living or non-living’?
Answer. Viruses are regarded as intermediate between non-living entities and living organisms. It
is very difficult to ascertain whether they are living or non-living. Some . characters of viruses
suggest their non-living nature whereas many other characters suggest their living nature.
They resemble non-living objects in –
(i) Lacking protoplast.
(ii) Ability to get crystallised.
(iii) Inability to live independent of living cell.
(iv) High specific gravity which is found only in non-living objects.
(v) Absence of respiration.
(vi) Absence of energy storing system.
(vii) Absence of growth and division. Instead different parts are synthesized separately.
Viruses resemble living beings in –
(i)Being formed of organic macromolecules which occur only in living beings.
(ii)Presence of genetic material.
(iii)Ability to multiply or reproduce although only inside living cell.
(iv)Occurrence of mutations.
(v) Occurrence of enzyme transcriptase in most viruses.
(vi)Some viruses like Pox virus contains vitamins like riboflavin and biotin.
(vii)Infectivity and host specificity.
(viii)Viruses are ‘killed’ by autoclaving and ultraviolet rays.
(ix)They breed true to their type. Even variations are inheritable.
(x) They take over biosynthetic machinery of the host cell and produce chemicals required for their
multiplication.
(xi)Viruses are responsible for a number of infectious’ diseases like common cold, epidemic
influenza, chicken pox.
10. What are the characteristic features of Euglenoids?
Answer: Some characteristic features of Euglenoids are as follows.
• Euglenoids (such as Euglena) are unicellular protists commonly found in fresh water.
• Instead of cell wall, a protein-rich cell membrane known as pellicle is present.
• They bear two flagella on the anterior end of the body.
• A small light sensitive eye spot is present.
• They contain photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll and can thus prepare their own food.
However, in absence of light, they behave similar to heterotrophs by capturing other small aquatic
organisms.
• They have both plant and animal-like features, which makes them difficult to classify.
11: Give a brief account of viruses with respect to their structure and nature of genetic
material. Also name four common viral diseases.
Answer: Viruses are sub-microscopic infectious agents that can infect all living organisms. A virus
consists of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat. The genetic material may be present in
the form of DNA or RNA. Most of the viruses, infecting plants, have single stranded RNA as
genetic material. On the other hand, the viruses infecting animals have single or double stranded
RNA or double stranded DNA.
Bacteriophages or viruses infecting bacteria mostly have double stranded DNA. Their protein coat
called capsid is made up of capsomere subunits. These capsomeres are arranged in helical or
polyhedral geometric forms. A.I.D.S, small pox, mumps, and influenza are some common
examples of viral diseases.
12. Give a comparative account of the classes of Kingdom Fungi under the following:
(i) Mode of nutrition
(ii) Mode of reproduction
Answer.
(A) Phycomycetes: This group of fungi includes members such as Rhizopus, Albugo, etc.
(i) Mode of nutrition
They are obligate parasites on plants or are found on decaying matter such as wood.
(ii) Mode of reproduction
Asexual reproduction takes place through motile zoospores or non-motile aplanospores that are
produced endogenously in sporangium.
Sexual reproduction may be of isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous type. It results in the
formation of thick-walled zygospore.
(B) Ascomycetes: This group of fungi includes members such
as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Claviceps, and Neurospora.
(i) Mode of nutrition
They are sporophytic, decomposers, parasitic or coprophilous (growing on dung).
(ii) Mode of reproduction
Asexual reproduction occurs through asexual spores produced exogenously, such as conidia
produced on conidiophores.
Sexual reproduction takes place through ascospores produced endogenously in saclike asci and
arranged inside ascocarps.
(C) Basidiomycetes: This group of fungi includes members such
as Ustilago, Agaricus and Puccinia.
(i) Mode of nutrition
They grow as decomposers in soil or on logs and tree stumps. They also occur as parasites in
plants causing diseases such as rusts and smuts.
(ii) Mode of reproduction
Asexual reproduction takes place commonly through fragmentation. Asexual spores are absent.
Sex organs are absent but sexual reproduction takes place through plasmogamy. It involves
fusion of two different strains of hyphae. The resulting dikaryon gives rise to a basidium. Four
basidiospores are produced inside a basidium.
(D) Deuteromycetes: This group of fungi includes members such as Alternaria, Trichoderma,
and Colletotrichum.
(i) Mode of nutrition
Some members are saprophytes while others are parasites. However, a large number act as
decomposers of leaf litter.
(ii) Mode of reproduction
Asexual reproduction is the only way of reproduction in deuteromycetes. It occurs through asexual
spores called conidia.
Sexual reproduction is absent in deuteromycetes.