Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
Biological Classification
NCERT Solutions
[Link]
Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
Question 1.
Discuss how classification systems have undergone several changes over a
period of time?
Answer.
Classification system has undergone many changes over a period of time as
many scientists gave their ideas of how living organisms can be classified.
1) First attempt of classification was made by Aristotle. He classified plants into
herbs, shrubs and trees and animals on the basis of presence or absence of
red blood cells. This system failed to classify all the living organisms.
2) Then Linnaeus classified the organisms into two kingdoms: plantae and
animalia. He failed to differentiate between unicellular and multicellular
organisms and prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
3) R. H. Whittaker gave five kingdom system of classification which classified all
organisms under five groups namely monera, protista, fungi, plantae and
animalia. This system solved all the problems of previously described
classification systems. He considered a wide range of characteristics like cell
wall, cell structure, number of cells, presence or absence of cell wall, mode of
nutrition, etc. This is best known classification system which we are using
today.
Question 2.
State two economically important uses of:
(a) heterotrophic bacteria
(b) archaebacteria
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
Answer.
(a) Heterotrophic bacteria
1) They are natural decomposers and helps in formation of humus.
2) They help in production of curd from milk.
(b) Archaebacteria
1) Methanogens are archaebacteria, which help in production of methane gas
from cow dung.
2) They help in production of biogas which can be used as fuel.
Question 3.
What is the nature of cell-walls in diatoms?
Answer.
The cell walls of diatoms are made up of silica. This construction is called
frustules. They are usually made up of two layers which fit into each other
like a petri dish. When diatoms die, they leave their cell wall behind in the
large amount which gets deposited in the form of heaps called diatomaceous
earth. It is soft and inert and can be used in filtration of oils and sugars.
Question 4.
Find out what do the terms ‘algal bloom’ and ‘red-tides’ signify.
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
Answer.
Algal bloom refers to increase in the population of algae or blue-green algae
in water which results in discoloration of water bodies and increases the
biological oxygen demand in water. They also lead to death of fishes and
other aquatic animals.
Red tides refer to rapid increase in the population of red dinoflagellates
(Gonyaulax), which causes sea to appear red. They release lot of toxins which
can kill many aquatic animals.
Question 5.
How are viroids different from viruses?
Answer.
Viroids are the smallest infectious agents known. They contain single
stranded RNA without protein coat. Viruses have RNA encapsulated in capsid.
Question 6.
Describe briefly the four major groups of Protozoa.
Answer.
Protozoa are single-celled eukaryotes which can be free-living or parasitic and
they feed on organic matter. They are categorized into four main types:
1) Amoeboid protozoans: They live in freshwater, seawater or in soil. They have
pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding. E.g. Entamoeba histolytica
2) Flagellated protozoans: They are either free-living or parasitic. They have
flagella for locomotion. E.g. Trypanosoma
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
3) Ciliated protozoans: They are aquatic and have cilia for locomotion. They
have a cavity called gullet which opens to the outside of the cell surface. All
cilia beat together to move water laden food inside the cavity. E.g.
Paramoecium
4) Sporozoans: They are endoparasites and other pathogens. They have
infectious sporelike stage in their life cycle. There are no organs for
locomotion like cilia and flagella. E.g. Plasmodium
Question 7.
Plants are autotrophic. Can you think of some plants that are partially
heterotrophic?
Answer.
Plants contain pigment called chlorophyll which captures sunlight and
prepares food using carbon dioxide and water by process called
photosynthesis. But few plants are partially heterotrophic which supplement
diet by trapping insects. Venus fly trap, Drosera, Sundew plant and pitcher-
plant are partially heterotrophic plants.
Question 8.
What do the terms phycobiont and mycobiont signify?
Answer.
Lichen is a symbiotic association between algae and fungi. Algae have
chlorophyll which prepares food for fungi. Fungus provides shelter to algae
and absorbs water and minerals from the soil. Phycobiont refers to the algal
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
components of the lichens and mycobiont refers to the fungal components of
the lichens.
Question 9.
Give a comparative account of the classes of Kingdom Fungi under the
following:
(i) mode of nutrition
(ii) mode of reproduction
Answer.
Phycomycetes
Mode of nutrition: They are obligate parasites on plants or decaying matter.
Mode of reproduction: Asexual reproduction through zoospores (motile) or
aplanospores (non-motile) produced endogenously in sporangium.
Ascomycetes
Mode of nutrition: They are sporophytic, decomposers, parasites.
Mode of reproduction: Asexual reproduction occurs through spores produced
exogenously. Sexual reproduction occurs through ascospores produced
endogenously in sac.
Basidiomycetes
Mode of nutrition: They are decomposers in soil or on logs and tree stumps.
Mode of reproduction: Asexual reproduction occurs through fragmentation.
Sexual reproduction takes place through plasmogamy.
Deuteromycetes
Mode of nutrition: Some of them are saprophytes, some are parasites.
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
Mode of reproduction: Asexual reproduction is only way of reproduction in
deuteromycetes through asexual spores.
Question 10.
What are the characteristic features of Euglenoids?
Answer.
The characteristic features of Euglenoids are:
1) They are unicellular flagellates.
2) These are fresh water organisms found in stagnant water.
3) They have protein rich layer called pellicle which makes their body flexible.
4) They are autotrophs in the presence of sunlight and heterotrophs in the
absence of sunlight.
5) They have a small light sensitive eye spot.
6) Asexual reproduction occurs by longitudinal binary fission and there is no
sexual reproduction.
Question 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 small infectious agents that replicate only inside living cell. They
have protein capsule with genetic material inside. The genetic material
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Class 11 Biology | Biological Classification | NCERT Solutions
becomes active once they are inside the nucleus of host cell. Viruses that
infect plants have ssRNA and that infect animals have dsRNA or DNA.
Viral Diseases: AIDS, Mumps, Influenza and common cold.
Question 12.
Organise a discussion in your class on the topic – Are viruses living or non-
living?
Answer.
Viruses are microscopic organisms that are intermediate between living and
non-living. They have characteristics of both living and non-living. They have a
capsid (protein coat) which carries genetic material (DNA or RNA). When
inside the host cell, they divide rapidly using host machinery and when
outside host they do not respond.
They resemble non-living organisms in lacking protoplasm, respiratory and
digestive system and lacking growth and division. They resemble living
organisms in having genetic material, rapid multiplication inside host, causing
infectious diseases, etc.
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