Module 1 Biology

LIVING WORLD

Introduction: Biology is the science which involves all life forms and its interaction with the different non-
living factors. The living world comprises of a diversity of living organisms. In order to easily understand
and study the diversity of organisms, biologists have evolved certain rules and principles for identification,
nomenclature and classification of organisms. The branch of biology dealing with these aspects can be
referred to as Taxonomy. Life is a complex phenomenon that includes animate Organisms that undergo
various life processes that includes signalling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either
because such functions have ceased (death), or else because they lack such functions and are classified
as inanimate. Biology is the science concerned with the study of life.

Characteristics features of Living things and How are they different from non-living things?
Organisms are considered to be living if they show the following characters
(A) Growth
(B) Reproduction
(C) Metabolism
(D) Response to stimuli

Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth which includes the number of species of
plants, animals and microorganisms along with diversity of genes in these species. it includes the different
ecosystems on the planet, for example forests, deserts, coral reefs and wetlands. Range of organisms
present on earth (1.7 – 1.8 million)

Identification: Comparing similarities and differences with already known ones.

Nomenclature: Naming of organisms. The names are unique and universal. Nomenclature can be defined
as an international system of standardized New Latin names used in biology for kinds and groups of kinds
of animals and plants.

Rules for nomenclature are provided by;

a) ICBN – International Code for Botanical Nomenclature
b) ICZN – International Code for Zoological Nomenclature

Binomial Nomenclature: Carolus Linnaeus is referred to as the Father of Taxonomy. Name consisting of
two parts: - Generic name (Genus) & Specific name (Species). e.g Homo sapiens

Guidelines and Principles for Binomial Nomenclature:

a) It should be in Latin / derived from Latin.
b) If it is written in Italics when typed and underlined when handwritten.
c) It contains two parts, first word denotes the Genus; second word denotes the Species.
d) Genus name starts with Capital letter while species name starts with small letter.
e) Name should be short, precise & easy to pronounce.
f) Name of the author is written in an abbreviated form after the species name. Ex. Mangifera
indica Linn.
 Example:
Mangifera indica (Mango)
Homo sapiens (Human)
Panthera pardus (Leopard)
Felis domestica (Cat)

Classification can be defined as the arrangement of animals and plants in taxonomic groups according to
their observed similarities (including at least kingdom and phylum in animals, division in plants, and class,
order, family, genus, and species. Grouping of organisms into categories, based on observable characters.
(Each category in the System of classification is referred to as –taxa)

Taxonomy: Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and classifying organisms and includes all
plants, animals and microorganisms of the world. Characterization, identification, classification and
nomenclature are the different processes involved in taxonomy.

Systematics: The study and classification of organisms withthe goal of reconstructing their evolutionary
histories and relationships. Different kinds of organisms and their relationships were studied by Linnaeus.
Systema Naturae is one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carl
Linnaeus (1707–1778) which introduced the Linnaean taxonomy. (Evolutionary relationships among
organisms).

Pneumonic to remember the correct order of Classification:

King Philip Came Over For Good Soup

Examples for each level of Classification

1. Species -Panthera leo, Panthera pardus, Panthera tigris.
2. Genus- Panthera (Lion, Leopard,Tiger )
3. Family- Panthera and Felis together into Family Felidae
4. Order - Felidae (Cat family) , Canidae (dog family) - Order Carnivora
5. Class - Carnivora (tiger, cat, dog), Primates (monkeys) - Class Mammalia
6. Phylum – Pisces, Amphibian, Reptilian, Aves & Mammals
 7. Kingdom – Plantae, Animalia.

Taxonomical Aids:
1. Herbarium
2. Botanical garden- NBRI (Lucknow) & IBG (Howrah)
3. Museum
4. Zoological parks.
5. Key (analytical in nature)
6. Monograph (1 family / genera at a time.)
7. Manuals (particular area, family/ genus/ species)
8. Flora (habitat & description of plants in a given area)

Taxonomical aids: These are the procedures and techniques used to store and preserve information as
well as specimens of various plants and animals. They are resources which store and preserve specimens
as well as information which help in taxonomic studies. These help in identification, naming, and
classification of organisms.

Herbarium
1. It is the storehouse of collected plant specimens.
2. Collected plant specimens are dried, pressed, and preserved on sheets and then arranged systematically
according to the universally accepted system of classification.
3. Herbarium sheet contains label regarding date, place of the collection, scientific name, family,
collector’s name, etc. with relevance to the specimen.

Botanical gardens
1. It has the collection of living plant species that are grown for identification and reference.
2. Each plant contains labels indicating their scientific name and family.
3. Some famous botanical gardens are Indian Botanical Garden, Calcutta (largest in India), Royal
Botanical Garden, Kew (largest in world till date) and National Botanical Research Institute.
Museum: It is the repository that has a collection of various plant and animal specimens that are
preserved for study and reference. The organisms are preserved either in preservative solution or in the
form of dry specimen. It often has a collection of skeletons of animals also.

Government Museum Chennai

 Zoological parks

Zoological parks: Wild animals are kept in protected environments. Provides opportunity for studying
the behaviour and food habits of the animals.
Key
1. Keys are used for identification of plants and animals based on similarities and dissimilarities.
2. Manuals, monographs, and catalogues are other means of recording descriptions.
3. Manuals help in the identification of names of various species of organisms in a given area.
4. Monograph is a detailed and well-documented work on any particular taxon.

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