Class Notes

Class: XI Topic: Biological Classification

Subject: Biology

Systems of Classification:
• Identification of differences among organisms and placing them into groups that
reflect their most significant features and relationship is called biological
classification.
• Biological classification was first proposed by Aristotle who divided plants into herbs,
shrubs and trees. Animals were classified into with RBC’s and without RBC’s.
Two kingdom classification:
Artificial Natural
System System

1. This system utilizes one 1. This system employs

or two morphological several morphological
traits. characters for grouping of
organisms.

2. May use habit and 2. A natural system uses

habitat as criteria for habit and habitat as criteria
grouping. for classification.

3. Homology is never 3. It studies homology in all

studied. characters including
morphology, anatomy,
cytotaxonomy, molecular
systematics etc.

4. The system gives no This system gives

information about natural information about both
relationships or natural relationships and
phylogeny. phylogeny.

5. It often results in 5. There is little chance of

placing of unrelated placing of unrelated
organisms in a group. organisms in a group.

6. Related organisms 6. Related organisms are

often get separated into placed the same groups.
different groups.

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 • Artificial system of classification was adopted by Pliny the Elder for animals on the
basis of habitat, e.g. land, air and water.
• Proposed by Linnaeus.

• The first natural system of classification was proposed by Schimper (1879) followed
by Eichler (1883).
Five kingdom classification:

(1) Given by R. H. Whittaker (1969).

(2) The five kingdom classification of Whittaker was based on 3 characters:

(a) Complexity of cell: Cell is prokaryote or eukaryote, on this basis, kingdom Monera is
formed. And all the prokaryotes are grouped into it.
(b) Complexity of organism: Organism is unicellular or multicellular, on this basis kingdom
Protista was formed, and all the unicellular eukaryotes are grouped into it.
(c) Nutrition: Organism is autotrophic or heterotrophic, on this basis kingdom Fungi, Plantae
and Animalia were formed.
(3) The five kingdoms classified by Whittaker are:

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Kingdom Monera:
• Includes prokaryotes.

• Typically unicellular organisms (but one group is mycelia).

• genetic material is naked circular DNA, not enclosed by nuclear envelop.

• Ribosomes and simple chromatophores are the only subcellular organelles in the
cytoplasm. The ribosomes are 70S.

• Sap vacuoles do not occur. Gas vacuole may be present.

• The predominant mode of nutrition is absorptive. But some groups are photosynthetic
and chemosynthetic.

• The organisms are non-motile or move by beating of simple flagella or by gliding.

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 • Flagella composed of many interwined chains of a protein flagellin.

• Moneran cells are microscopic.

• Most organisms bear a rigid cell wall (peptidoglycan).

• Reproduction is primarily asexual by binary fission or budding. Mitotic apparatus is

not formed during cell division.

• Examples: bacteria, actinomycetes, mycoplasma and cyanobacteria.

• Smallest and most abundant organism on Earth.

Bacteria:
• Bacteria are found in various shapes like:

a) Coccus (spherical)

b) Bacillus (rod-shaped)

c) Vibrio (comma shaped)

d) Spirillum (spiral shaped)

• Bacteria found almost everywhere and can be Photosynthetic autotrophs,

Chemosynthetic autotrophs or Heterotrophs.

Archaebacteria:
• Archaebacteria has different cell wall structure due to which they can live in most
harsh habitats.

a) Halophiles (salt-loving), e.g., halobacterium and halococcus

b) Thermoacidophiles (in hot springs), e.g., sulfobolus and
thermoplasma
c) Methanogen (marshy area),e.g., Methanobacterium, Methanolinea

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 • Methanogens are also found in the guts of several ruminant animals such as cows
and buffalos and they are responsible for the production of methane (biogas) from
the dung of these animals.

Eubacteria:
• These are also known as true bacteria.

• They have a rigid cell wall.

• They posses flagellum, if motile.

• They also known as blue green algae or Cyanobacteria.

• Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic autotrophs.

• These are unicellular, colonial or filamentous algae.

• Colonies are surrounded by gelatinous sheath.

• Some of the eubacteria can fix atmospheric nitrogen by specialized cells,
e.g. Anabaena and Nostoc. These special cells are called heterocyst.
• Chemosynthetic autotrophs: Oxidize various inorganic substances such as
nitrates, nitrites and ammonia and use the released energy for their ATP production.
They play a great role in recycling nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, iron and
sulphur.
• Heterotrophic bacteria: The most abundant in nature
a) Most of them are decomposer

b) They are helpful in making curd from milk.

c) They are helpful in Production of antibiotics

d) Some are pathogen causing diseases like cholera, typhoid,

and tetanus.

• Bacteria reproduce mainly by fission, also produce spore in unfavorable condition.

• Reproduce sexually by transfer of DNA form one bacteria to other, the process
called conjugation.
Mycoplasma:
• Completely lack a cell wall.

• Smallest living cells known.

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 • Can survive even without oxygen.

• Pathogenic in animals and plants.

Kingdom Protista:
• All are unicellular and eukaryotic.

• Primarily aquatic, can live in moist places.

• Forms a link with the others dealing with plants, animals and fungi.

• The cell body contains a well defined nucleus and membrane bound organelles.

• Some have cilia or flagella.

• Reproduce asexually and sexually by a process involving cell fusion and zygote
formation.

Chrysophytes:
• Includes diatoms and golden algae (desmids)

• Photosynthetic.

• They are found in freshwater as well as in marine environments.

• Mostly planktonic ( passive swimmer)

• Cell walls overlap to fit together like a soap box.

• Cell wall contains silica hence indestructible.

• Their accumulation forms ‘Diatomaceous Earth’.

• Used in polishing, filtration of oils and syrups.

• Diatoms are the chief ‘producers’ in the oceans.

Dinoflagellates :
• Marine, photosynthetic.

• Cell wall has stiff cellulose plates.

• Appears yellow, green, brown, blue or red depending on the pigments.

• Have two flagella − one longitudinal and other transversely in a furrow between wall
plates.

• Red Dinoflagellates (Gonyaulax) form red tides.

Kingdom Fungi
• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms.

• They are non-vascular.

• They reproduce by means of spores

called conidia or sporangiospores or zoospores.

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 • Depending on the species and conditions both sexual and asexual spores may be
produced.

• They are non-motile.

• Exhibit the phenomenon of alteration of generation.

• The vegetative body of the fungi may be unicellular or composed o f microscopic

threads called hyphae. The network of hyphae is known as mycelium.
• The structure of cell wall is similar to plants but chemically the fungi cell wall is
composed of chitin.

• Fungi are heterotrophic organisms.

• They digest the food first and then ingest the food and in order to accomplish this
fungi produce exoenzymes.

• Store their food as starch.

• Biosynthesis of chitin occurs in fungi.

• The nucleus of the fungi is very small.

• During mitosis the nuclear envelope is not dissolved.

• Nutrition in fungi is saprophytic, or parasitic or symbiotic.

• Reproduction in fungi is both by sexual and asexual means. Sexual state is referred
to as teleomorph, asexual state is referred to as anamorph.

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Kingdom Plantae
• Most of the plants are eukaryotic.

• They contain chlorophyll.

• Cells are surrounded by cell wall.

• Cell walls of plant cells are comprised of cellulose.

• They have an ability to grow by cell division. Growth occurs due to the presence of
definite growing points or cells. In higher forms, growing areas are called meristems.

• In life cycle of plant cells, the interchanges occur from the embryos and are supported
by other tissues and self produce.

• Plants have tissue and organ.

• They obtain their energy from sun through photosynthesis.

• Plants reproduce both sexually and asexually. Alternation of generation is found in

plants.
• They lack motility.
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Kingdom Animalia
• Animals are eukaryotic, multicellular and heterotrophic organisms.

• They have multiple cells with mitochondria

• They depend on other organisms for food.

• Biologists recognize 36 phyla in the animal kingdom.

• The size of animals ranges from a few celled organism like the mesozoans to animals
weighing many tons like the blue whale.

• The animal cell contains organelles like the nucleus, mitochondria, Golgi complex,
endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles, centrioles, and
cytoskeleton.

• They have tissue/organ/organ system.

• Organ systems are skeletal system, muscular system, d igestive system, respiratory
system, circulatory system, excretory system, reproductive system, immune system
and the endocrine system.

• Most animals have the ability to move, they show rapid movement as compared to
other organisms.

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