Classification
Systems:
The Six Kingdoms and
Three Domains
Historical Context:
Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778)
developed the basis for
modern classification
He introduced binomial
nomenclature (two-part
naming system)
Originally classified organisms
into two kingdoms: plants and
animals
How has our understanding of
life's diversity changed since
Linnaeus' time?
Evolution of Classification
Systems
As science advanced, new
classification systems emerged
Microscopes revealed previously
unseen microorganisms
Genetic studies provided new insights
into relationships between organisms
SIX KINGDOM
SYSTEM
Developed in the 1970s by
Carl Woese and others
Divides life into six kingdoms:
Animalia, Plantae, Fungi,
Protista, Archaea, and
Bacteria
How does this system
improve upon earlier two-
kingdom or five-kingdom
models?
KINGDOM ANIMALIA
This kingdom includes animal organisms.
These multicellular eukaryotes depend on
plants and other organisms for nutrition.
Most animals live in aquatic environments
and range in size from tiny tardigrades to
extremely large blue whales.
Most animals reproduce by sexual
reproduction
Multicellular eukaryotes
Heterotrophs (cannot produce their own
food)
Examples: mammals, birds, insects, fish
Domain: Eukarya
Organisms: Mammals, amphibians,
sponges, insects, worms
Cell Type: Eukaryotic KINGDOM
Metabolism: Oxygen is needed for
ANIMALIA
metabolism
Nutrition Acquisition: Ingestion
Reproduction: Sexual reproduction occurs
in most and asexual reproduction in some
KINGDOM
PLANTAE
Multicellular eukaryotes
Autotrophs (produce their
own food through
photosynthesis)
Examples: trees, flowers,
ferns, mosses
How do plants differ from
animals in their energy
acquisition?
Domain: Eukarya
Organisms: Moss, ferns, conifers,
and flowering plants
KINGDO Cell Type: Eukaryotic
M
Metabolism: Oxygen is needed
for metabolism
PLANTAE Nutrition
Acquisition: Depending on
species, nutrition intake may occur
through absorption,
photosynthesis, or ingestion
Reproduction: Sexual or asexual
KINGDOM FUNGI
Eukaryotes that absorb nutrients
from their environment
Examples: mushrooms, yeasts,
molds
Play crucial roles in decomposition
and nutrient cycling
While some fungal species contain
toxins that are deadly to animals
and humans, others have beneficial
uses, such as for the production of
penicillin and related antibiotics.
Domain: Eukarya
Organisms: Mushrooms,
yeast, and molds
Cell Type: Eukaryotic
KINGDO Metabolism: Oxygen is
needed for metabolism
M FUNGI Nutrition
Acquisition: Absorption
Reproduction: Sexual or
asexual through spore
formation
KINGDOM PROTISTA
Diverse group of eukaryotic
microorganisms
Includes algae, amoebae, and
slime molds
Can be unicellular or multicellular
The Protista kingdom includes a
very diverse group of organisms.
Protists that are similar to plants
are capable of photosynthesis.
Many protists are parasitic
pathogens that cause disease in
animals and humans.
Domain: Eukarya
Organisms: Amoebae, green
algae, brown algae, diatoms,
KINGDO euglena, and slime molds
Cell Type: Eukaryotic
M Metabolism: Oxygen is needed
for metabolism
PROTIST Nutrition Acquisition: Depending
on species, nutrition intake may
A occur through absorption,
photosynthesis, or ingestion
Reproduction: Mostly asexual,
but meiosis occurs in some species
Domain: Eukarya
Organisms: Amoebae, green
algae, brown algae, diatoms,
KINGDO euglena, and slime molds
Cell Type: Eukaryotic
M Metabolism: Oxygen is needed
for metabolism
PROTIST Nutrition Acquisition: Depending
on species, nutrition intake may
A occur through absorption,
photosynthesis, or ingestion
Reproduction: Mostly asexual,
but meiosis occurs in some species
KINGDOM EUBACTERIA
These organisms are considered to be true
bacteria and are classified under the Bacteria
domain.
Bacteria live in almost every type of
environment and are often associated with
disease. Most bacteria, however, do not cause
disease.
Bacteria are the main microscopic organisms
that compose the human microbiota. There are
more bacteria in the human gut, for instance,
than there are body cells. Bacteria ensure that
our bodies function normally.
These microbes reproduce at an alarming rate
under the right conditions. Most reproduce
asexually by binary fission. Bacteria have
varied and distinct bacterial cell shapes
including round, spiral, and rod shapes.
Domain: Bacteria
Organisms: Bacteria,
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae),
and actinobacteria
KINGDOM Cell Type: Prokaryotic
Metabolism: Depending on
EUBACTER species, oxygen may be toxic,
tolerated, or needed for metabolism
IA Nutrition Acquisition: Depending
on species, nutrition intake may
occur through absorption,
photosynthesis, or chemosynthesis
Reproduction: Asexual
KINGDOM
ARHCHAEBACTERIA
Archaebacteria are single-celled
prokaryotes originally thought to
be bacteria. They are in the
Archaea domain and have a
unique ribosomal RNA type.
The cell wall composition of these
extreme organisms allows them to
live in some very inhospitable
places, such as hot springs and
hydrothermal vents. Archaea of
the methanogen species can also
be found in the guts of animals
Domain: Archaea
Organisms: Methanogens, halophiles,
thermophiles, and psychrophiles
Cell Type: Prokaryotic
Metabolism: Depending on species,
KINGDOM oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur,
or sulfide may be needed for metabolism
ARCHAEBACTER Nutrition Acquisition: Depending on
IA species, nutrition intake may occur
through absorption, non-photosynthetic
photophosphorylation, or
chemosynthesis
Reproduction: Asexual reproduction by
binary fission, budding, or fragmentation
3 DOMAINS
Proposed by Carl
Woese in 1990
Based on genetic
analysis of
ribosomal RNA
Divides life into
three domains:
Bacteria,
Archaea, and
Eukarya
DOMAIN BACTERIA
also known as eubacteria or
"true bacteria“
prokaryotic cells that are
common in human daily life
Eubacteria can be found
almost everywhere and kill
thousands upon thousands of
people each year, but also
serve as antibiotics producers
and food digesters in our
stomachs.
DOMAIN BACTERIA
The Bacteria possess the following characteristics:
1. Bacteria are prokaryotic cells.
2. Like the Eukarya, they have membranes
composed of unbranched fatty acid chains
attached to glycerol by ester linkages The cell
walls of Bacteria, unlike the Archaea and the
Eukarya, contain peptidoglycan.
3. Bacteria are sensitive to traditional
antibacterial antibiotics but are resistant to
most antibiotics that affect Eukarya.
4. Bacteria contain rRNA that is unique to the
Bacteria as indicated by the presence
molecular regions distinctly different from the
rRNA of Archaea and Eukarya.
DOMAIN ARCHAEA
Also prokaryotic, but genetically distinct from bacteria
Often found in extreme environments (extremophiles)
Some live in moderate conditions, including human gut
Archaea possess the following characteristics:
1. Archaea are prokaryotic cells.
2. Unlike the Bacteria and the Eukarya, the Archaea have
membranes composed of branched hydrocarbon chains
(many also containing rings within the hydrocarbon
chains) attached to glycerol by ether linkages
3. The cell walls of Archaea contain no peptidoglycan.
4. Archaea are not sensitive to some antibiotics that affect
the Bacteria, but are sensitive to some antibiotics that
affect the Eukarya.
5. Archaea contain rRNA that is unique to the Archaea as
indicated by the presence molecular regions distinctly
different from the rRNA of Bacteria and Eukarya.
DOMAIN EUKARYA
eukaryotic cells.
Like the Bacteria, they have membranes
composed of unbranched fatty acid chains
attached to glycerol by ester linkages
Not all Eukarya possess cells with a cell
wall, but for those Eukarya having a cell
wall, that wall contains no peptidoglycan.
Eukarya are resistant to traditional
antibacterial antibiotics but are sensitive
to most antibiotics that affect eukaryotic
cells.
Eukarya contain rRNA that is unique to
the Eukarya as indicated by the presence
molecular regions distinctly different from
the rRNA of Archaea and Bacteria.
Comparing Six-
Kingdom and Three-
Domain Systems
Six-Kingdom
focuses on visible
characteristics
Three-Domain
emphasizes
genetic
relationships
Both systems are
still used in
different contexts
How are organism
classified?
DOMAIN
A domain in biological classification is the
highest taxonomic rank, which groups
organisms based on fundamental
differences in their cellular and genetic
structure.
KINGDOM
CLASSIFICATION A biological classification is one of the
OF highest taxonomic ranks, just below the
ORGANISM domain, used to group together all forms
of life that share fundamental structural
and functional characteristics.
PHYLUM
Phylum is a classification level beneath
the kingdom and groups together
organisms with similar body plans or
structures, allowing scientists to further
categorize and study different types of
Class
Class is a classification level below phylum and
groups together organisms that share even more
specific characteristics. It consists of several
orders.
Order
Order is a classification level beneath class and
CLASSIFICATI further organizes organisms based on even more
specific similarities in their characteristics and
ON behaviors. It allows scientists to group together
OF organisms that are more closely related. It consists
ORGANISM of several related families.
Family
Family is a taxonomic classification that groups
together organisms with even more specific
similarities, such as similar body structures and
behaviors. It helps scientists categorize organisms
into smaller, more closely relatedgroups for further
study and understanding. Consist of several
related genera (singular: Genus)
Genus
Genus consists of several related species
Species
A species is the most specific level of organism
classification in biological taxonomy,
representing a group of individuals that can
interbreed and produce fertile offspring in
CLASSIFICATION natural conditions. Members of a species share
OF common characteristics and genetic
ORGANISM similarities.
Scientific Name
a unique, two-part name given to each species
of organism. It consists of the genus name (the
first part) the first letter is written in capital
letter and the species name (the second part)
this is written in lowercase letter, both written
in Latin and italicized. This naming system,
known as binomial nomenclature, allows
scientists worldwide to communicate
Basic Taxonomy-6 Kingdoms of
Life-Classification
[Link]
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What are the six kingdoms in the classification system proposed by Carl
Woese?
2. How does the inclusion of the Archaea domain change our
understanding of microbial diversity?
[Link] are the distinguishing characteristics of each kingdom in the six-
kingdom classification system?
4. Why is it important to classify organisms into different kingdoms?