BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

There exist many different kinds of organisms. There have been many attempts to classify living
organisms.
They were classified based on their needs and uses-food clothing , shelter
Classification is a method of grouping organisms according to their similarities and differences-
on a scientific manner.
Aristotle was the earliest to give a more scientific basis for classification.
He used simple morphological characters to classify plants into trees, shrubs and herbs.
He also divided Animals into two groups, those which had red blood and those that did not.
Linnaeus gave the Two Kingdom system of classification ----- Kingdom Plantae and Kingdom
Animalia which included all plants and animals respectively.
This system did not distinguish between the eukaryotes and prokaryotes, unicellular and
multicellular organisms and photosynthetic (green algae) and non-photosynthetic (fungi)
organisms.
A large number of organisms did not fall into either category.
Hence the Two kingdom classification used for a long time was found inadequate
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
In addition to gross morphology a need was also felt to include other characteristics like cell
structure, nature of wall, mode of nutrition, habitat, methods of reproduction, evolutionary
relationships, etc.
Classification systems for the living organisms have further undergone several changes over the
time.
Though plant and animal kingdoms have been a constant under all different systems the other
groups of organisms to be included went on changing, so has the number of groups and
kingdoms.
R.H. Whittaker (1969) proposed a Five Kingdom Classification.
The main criteria for classification used by him include
Cell structure, body organization, mode of nutrition, reproduction and phylogenetic
relationships
The 5 kingdoms named are: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Lets understand the issues and considerations that influenced the classification system.:
Earlier classification systems included bacteria, blue green algae, fungi, mosses, ferns,
gymnosperms and the angiosperms under ‘Plants’.-------all had cell wall
This placed together groups which widely differed in other characteristics.
It brought together the prokaryotic bacteria and the blue green algae (cyanobacteria) with
other groups which were eukaryotic.
It also grouped together the unicellular organisms and the multicellular ones -for eg,
Chlamydomonas and Spirogyra were placed together under algae.
The classification did not differentiate between the heterotrophic group – fungi, and the
autotrophic green plants, though there was a characteristic difference in their walls
composition--------- the fungi had chitin (walls )while the green plants --cellulosic cell wall.
Therefore, the fungi were placed in a separate kingdom – Kingdom Fungi
All prokaryotic organisms ---under Kingdom Monera
Unicellular eukaryotic organisms ----in Kingdom Protista.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
All put under plants ;……all have cell wall
Prokaryotes with eukaryotes
Unicellular along with multicellular
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom Protista has brought together Chlamydomonas, Chlorella ( Algae within Plants and
both having cell walls) with Paramoecium and Amoeba (which were earlier placed in the
animal kingdom which lack cell wall
Over time, an attempt has been made to evolve a classification system which reflects not only
the morphological, physiological and reproductive similarities, but is also phylogenetic, i.e., is
based on evolutionary relationships.
Main Criteria for Whittaker's Classification
• Cell structure
• Thallus organization
• Mode of Nutrition
• Reproduction
• Phylogenetic Relationships.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM MONERA
Includes all Prokaryotic organisms.
Includes –ARCHAEBACTERIA, EUBACTERIA, CYANOBACTERIA
• Bacteria are the most abundant micro-organisms.
• Bacteria occur almost everywhere –soil, in extreme habitats such as hot springs, deserts,
snow and deep oceans. Many of them live in or on other organisms as parasites.
• Bacteria are grouped under four categories based on their shape:
 spherical Coccus (pl.: cocci),
 rod-shaped Bacillus (pl.: bacilli),
 comma-shaped Vibrium (pl.: vibrio)
 spiral Spirillum (pl.: spirilla)
• the bacterial structure is very simple, wall is very
complex.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Show varied metabolic diversity.
Some of the bacteria are
1. Autotrophic, i.e., they synthesise their own food from inorganic substrates ------photosynthetic
autotrophic or chemosynthetic autotrophic.
2. Heterotrophs, i.e., they depend on other organisms or on dead organic matter for food.

ARCHAEBACTERIA
• ANCIENT BACTERIA which can survive in extreme environmental
conditions
• Live in harsh habitats
 THERMOACIDOPHILES – grows in extreme temperature & acidic conditions
 HALOPHILES – grows in extreme salty conditions
 METHANOGENS – marshy areas .produce methane usually found in the gut of ruminant animals ---
BIOGAS
• Different from bacteria wrt to cell wall –lacks murein(pseudomurein)
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
EUBACTERIA-(TRUE BACTERIA)
• True bacteria
• presence of a cell wall (murein)
• Flagella(motile/nonmotile.
• Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, Mycoplasma
BACTERIA
• Occur everywhere
• Have a rigid cell wall made up of PEPTIDOGYLCAN(MUREIN)
• Are of different shapes –cocci, bacilli, spirilla ,vibrio.
• Autotrophic or Heterotrophic
• Autotrophic- a)Photosynthetic
• b) Chemosynthetic-oxidize inorganic substances such as Nitrates, Nitrites
etc .Helps in recycling of Nitrogen, Phosphorus.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• If Heterotrophic –can be either Parasitic or saprophytic
• Many bacteria useful in the production of Antibiotics ,fixation of Nitrogen in the legumes, making Curd.
• Many cause diseases :
 Humans –CHOLERA, TYPHOID, TETANUS etc
 Plants –CITRUS CANKER

Reproduction: 1) BINARY FISSION

2)FORMATION OF SPORES (Endospores-unfavorable conditions)
3) SEXUAL REPRODUCTION (Transfer of DNA from one bacteria to another
bacteria. Primitive type of reproduction)
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CYANOBACTERIA (BLUE GREEN ALGAE)
• Have Chlorophyll a seen in green plants .
• Photosynthetic Autotrophs
• Unicellular , Colonial or Filamentous
• Fresh water, Marine or Terrestrial
• Colonies surrounded by Gelatinous sheath. NOSTOC
ANABAENA
• Forms blooms and pollute water bodies. HETEROCYSTS
• Have the ability to fix atmospheric Nitrogen due to the presence of specialized vegetative
cells called Heterocyst.
• Heterocysts are dead vegetative cells that can fix atmospheric nitrogen using the enzyme
nitrogenase
• They are cells of slightly larger size and with a more thickened wall than the vegetative
cells.
• Seen in Nostoc ,Anabaena.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
MYCOPLASMA
• Lack cell wall.
• Smallest living cells.
• Can survive without oxygen
• Pathogenic in plants and animals
• Called FRIED EGG COLONIES
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM PROTISTA
• Protists are SIMPLE EUKARYOTIC ORGANISMS that are neither plants nor animals or fungi.
Protists are unicellular in nature but can also be found as a colony of cells
(colonial).
• The term ‘Protista’ is derived from the Greek word “protistos”, meaning “the very first“.
• No definite characters so ,called “TAXONOMIC MISFITS”
• Connecting link between Prokaryotic Kingdom Monera and Eukaryotic Kingdom Plantae,
Fungi, Animalia
• Cosmopolitan in distribution. Most protists live in water, damp terrestrial environments or
even as parasites.
• The cell of these organisms contains a definite nucleus and membrane bound organelles.
• Some of them even possess structures that aid locomotion like flagella or cilia, some have
pseudopodia that help them to move.
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• They may be autotrophic –photosynthetic
or heterotrophic –parasitic, saprophytic, some are Holozoic(ingests whole
organism).
• Reproduces: Asexually by BINARY FISSION,BUDDING
Sexually by FUSION OF 2 HAPLOID CELLS AND ZYGOTE FORMATION

Protists are broadly classified into 5 subdivisions :

1. CHRYSOPHYTES
2. DINOFLAGELLATES
3. EUGLENOIDS
4. SLIME MOULDS
5. PROTOZOANS
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
1. CHRYSOPHYTES
• Found in fresh water, and marine environment(AQUATIC)
• Unicellular ,Microscopic and float passively in water (PLANKTON)
• Photosynthetic
• Includes Diatoms, Desmids(golden brown algae)
• DIATOMS
• Chief producers of ocean
 Cell wall of Diatoms made up of deposits of silica
 Cell wall consists of 2 lids which fits like a soap box ,
 upper lid- EPITHECA, lower lid -HYPOTHECA
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• Nucleus is in the center.
• Cell wall made up of silica and is indestructible
• Walls are delicately ornamented- JEWELS OF THE PLANT KINGDOM/PEARLS OF THE OCEAN
• Accumulation of the Shells of diatoms form a deposition of shells called DIATOMACEOUS
EARTH
• Diatomaceous earth is the sedimentary deposit of fossil remains of
diatoms.
• USES OF DIATOMACEOUS EARTH:
 Used in polishing
 Filtration of oils and syrups
 Used as filters in swimming pools.
 As reflective paints
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
2. DINOFLAGELLATES
• Mostly marine, Photosynthetic
• Appear Yellow, green, blue brown or red--depending on the
pigment
• Cell wall has stiff cellulose plates on outer surface
• 2 flagella-one longitudinal and the other transverse
• between the wall plates
• Red Dinoflagellates (GONYAULAX) undergo rapid
multiplication and the sea appears RED
• Toxins released kill other
marine animals .
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
3. EUGLENOIDS
• Fresh water organisms found mostly in stagnant waters
• Have a protein rich layer called PELLICLE instead of cell wall
• Therefore body is flexible
• In the presence of light they are Photosynthetic ,but in the absence of light behave like
Heterotrophs –predating on smaller organisms
• Pigments present same as higher plants
• Posses 2 flagella –one long and one short
• Eg: EUGLENA
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
4.SLIME MOULDS
• Saprophytic protists
• Found in decaying twigs, leaves ,barks engulfing organic matter (phagocytic)
• During vegetative phase they occur in the form of slimy mass –PLASMODIUM
• Spreads over several feet
• Unfavorable conditions: plasmodium differentiates into FRUITING BODIES bearing SPORES
• Spores posses true walls
• Extremely resistant &can survive adverse conditions
• Spores dispersed by air currents FRUITING BODIES
PLASMODIUM
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
5. PROTOZOANS
• Animal like ,eukaryotes
• Heterotrophs and live as predators or parasites. They are believed to be primitive relatives of
animals.
• There are four major groups of protozoans.
 AMOEBOID PROTOZOANS
 CILIATED PROTOZOANS
 FLAGELLATED PROTOZOANS
 SPOROZOANS
AMOEBOID PROTOZOANS
1. Fresh water, sea water, or moist soil
2. Move and capture prey by putting out PSUEDOPODIA(false feet) -(AMOEBA)
3. Marine forms have silica shells on their surface
4. Some are parasites –(ENTAMOEBA)
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CILIATED PROTOZOANS
1. Aquatic ,moves with the help of CILIA
2. Have a cavity called GULLET which opens to the outside.
3. Due to coordinated movement of cilia food enters the gullet
4. Cilia helps in movement and capturing of prey.
eg: PARAMOECIUM
FLAGELLATED PROTOZOANS
5. Free living or parasitic.
6. Have Flagella.
7. Parasitic forms causes diseases like SLEEPING SICKNESS
.Eg: TRYPANOSOMA
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

SPOROZOANS
1. Locomotory organs absent.
2. Parasitic in nature.
3. Have a infectious spore like stage in their life cycle
Eg: PLASMODIUM –malarial parasite causes MALARIA
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM MYCOTA
• Eukaryotic, Achlorophyllous.
• Show diversity in Morphology and Habitat.
• Heterotrophic organisms
 Saprophytes : found growing on dead &decaying organic
matter and absorbs soluble organic matter from dead
substrates.
 Parasites: Live on other organisms for food and shelter and causes diseases
 Symbionts: Live in close association with other organism where both are benefitted
 LICHENS: Symbiotic association between Algae (chlorophyllous and can manufacture food)
and Fungi (achlorophyllous )which absorbs food and provide shelter to the algae.
 MYCORRHIZA: Myco- Fungi, rhiza- root .Fungi associated with roots of higher plants .
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• Plant body –MYCELIUM (NETWORK OF HYPHAE)
• Which is made up of thin filamentous thread like structures called HYPHAE
• Exception is YEAST which is unicellular
• Hyphae may be
 Aseptate- no septa or cross walls with scattered nuclei(COENOCYTIC)
 Septate – with cross walls or septa
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
• Cell wall is made up of FUNGAL CELLULOSE /CHITIN AND POLYSACCHARIDES.
• Reserve food is GLYCOGEN
• Reproduction is :
 VEGETATIVE :Fragmentation ,Budding and Fission
 ASEXUAL : By spores called CONIDIA,ZOOSPORES,SPORANGIOSPORES.
 SEXUAL : Production of OOSPORES,ASCOSPORES, BASIDIOSPORES
• The various spores are produced in distinct structures called FRUITING BODIES.
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Sexual reproduction involves 3 steps:
1. PLASMOGAMY: Involves fusion of the protoplasm of 2 motile /nonmotile gametes.nuclei of
2 sec cells come close ,no fusion, but form binucleate or DIKARYON. Process is called
DIKARYOTISATION(seen in Ascomycetes &Basidiomycetes. Sometimes fusion takes place.
2. KARYOGAMY: Fusion of compatible haploid nuclei. Diploid cell now form fruiting bodies.
3. MEIOSIS IN ZYGOTE: Meiosis takes place resulting in the formation of spores
Based on mycelium ,mode of spore formation and the fruiting bodies :
There are 4 classes:
4. PHYCOMYCETES
5. ASCOMYCETES
6. BASIDIOMYCETES
7. DEUTEROMYCETES
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CLASS : PHYCOMYCETES
1. Found in aquatic habitats, damp soil ,dead plant/animals, food stuff
2. Parasites(obligate) or Saprophytes.
3. Mycelium is much branched ,coenocytic, aseptate.
4. Asexual Reproduction: Zoospores(motile)or Aplanospores(nonmotile),formed
endogenously in sporangium
5. Sexual Reproduction : ISOGAMOUS,ANISOGAMOUS
Fusion of 2 gametes to form Zygospores
Eg: MUCOR ,RHIZOPUS(bread mold),
ALBUGO (white rust parasitic on mustard)
WATER MOULD(SAPROLEGNIA)
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CLASS: ASCOMYCETES
1. Commonly called SAC FUNGI
2. Mycelium branched, septate hyphae. Multicellular or unicellular(YEAST).
3. Saprophytic,decomposers,parasitic or coprophilous(on dung).
4. Reproduces Asexually& Sexually.
5. ASEXUAL: Fission and Budding
spores formed exogenously on special mycelium called CONIDIOPHORES.
Conidia forms mycelium on germination.
6. SEXUAL : Sexual spores called ASCOSPORES produced endogenously in sac like structures
called ASCI
Asci arranged into fruiting bodies called ASCOCARP.
Eg: ASPERGILLUS(black mold),BREWERS YEAST(Saccharomyces cerevisiae),CLAVICEPS(ergot
disease),NEUROSPORA(used in biochemical & genetic work),MORRELS,BUFFLES(edible)
BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CLASS : BASIDIOMYCETES
1. Commonly called Club Fungi.
2. Commonly known forms: Mushrooms, Bracket Fungi or Puff Balls.
3. Grows on soil, logs tree stumps, as parasites on plants(SMUTS ,RUSTS).
4. Mycelium: multicellular, Septate
5. Reproduces :Asexually & Sexually
- Asexual spores not found, fragmentation common
- Sex organs absent-Plasmogamy takes place between 2 vegetative or somatic cells of
different strains
Results in Dikaryon mycelium which gives rise to BASIDIUM
Karyogamy and Meiosis takes place in the Basidium
Basidium arranged to form BASIDIOCARP(fruiting body)
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
CLASS :DEUTEROMYCETES
1. Called FUNGI IMPERFECTI.
2. Sexual phase absent.
3. Reproduces by Asexual spores
4. Mostly parasites (causes several diseases in plants, animals, humans), few Saprophytes (in
soil, dead decaying matter),
5. Helps in mineral cycling
6. Mycelium –well developed branched Septate hyphae
7. Multinucleate
8. Reproduces asexually by Conidia.
9. SEXUAL REPRODUCTION ABSENT
Eg: ALTERNARIA,TRICHODERMA,COLLETOTRICHUM
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM:PLANTAE
• Includes all Eukaryotic chlorophyll containing organisms called PLANTS.
• Few are partially heterotrophic such as insectivorous plants (BLADDERWORT,VENUS FLY
TRAP )or parasites (CUSCUTA).
• Prominent chloroplast, cell wall made up of cellulose
• Includes-ALGAE,BRYOPHYTES,PTERIDOPHYTES,GYMNOSPERMS AND ANGIOSPERMS
• Life cycle has 2 distinct stages: DIPLOID SPOROPHYTIC and the HAPLOID GAMETOPHYTIC.
• Alternates with each other, length of the phases varies depending on the various groups in
plants .----ALTERNATION OF GENERATION
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM:ANIMALIA
• Heterotrophic Eukaryotic organisms
• Multicellular , cells lack cell wall.
• Directly or indirectly depend on plants for food.
• Digestion is internal (cavity), stores reserves as glycogen or fat.
• Mode of nutrition – HOLOZOIC (ingestion of food)
• Follow a definite growth pattern and grow into adults that have definite shape and size
• Higher forms have elaborate sensory and Neuromotor mechanism
• Most of them capable of locomotion
• Sexual reproduction is by copulation of male and female followed by embryological
development
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
VIRUSES
Do not find a place in the classification since they are truly living.
Non cellular organisms, have a inert crystalline structure outside the living cell (VIRIONS) .
Once inside the cell they take over the machinery of the host cell to replicate themselves and finally kill
the host.(obligate intracellular parasites)
Term VIRUS-(Latin –VENOM- poisonous fluid )
Obligate parasites
Smaller than Bacteria- sub microscopic
Basically Nucleoprotein.
LOUIS PASTEUR gave the name Virus to these infectious entities
D.J.IVANOWSKY (1892)said that these organisms causes diseases in Tobacco-Tobacco mosaic virus
Smaller than bacteria &can pass through bacteria proof filters.
M.W.BEIJERINCK(1898)-Showed that when the sap of infected plants come in contact with the healthy
plant causes the disease.and called it CONTAGIUM VIVUM FLUIDUM(infectious living fluid )
W.M.STANLEY(1935) showed that viruses could be crystallised and that they are made up of proteins
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
Made up of nucleoproteins
Protein coat –CAPSID
Inner core made up of NUCLEIC ACIDS –DNA/RNA
No viruses contain both DNA&RNA
Capsid is made up of units called CAPSOMERES
(protects the Nucleic Acids)
Capsomeres -Arranged in helical/polyhedral geometric forms
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
TYPES OF VIRUSES
• BASED ON THE HOST :1. PLANT VIRUS-Tobacco mosaic virus, cauliflower virus(single

strandedRNA)
2. ANIMAL VIRUS-Rabies, HIV virus, Herpes virus(single or double stranded
RNA or double stranded DNA
3.BACTERIOPHAGES -T4,T2 virus
• BASED ON THE NUCLEIC ACIDS 1. DNA VIRUS –Herpes Virus, Pox Virus, Polio Virus,T4 virus
2. RNA VIRUS – TMV virus, Measles

DISEASES CAUSED:
Mumps, Small Pox, Herpes, Influenza, AIDS.
Plants- symptoms: Mosaic formation, leaf rolling and curling,yellowing,vein clearing, dwarfing,
stunted growth
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
STRUCTURE OF T4 BACTERIOPHAGE
Virus which attacks bacteria-E coli
Made up of 3 parts
1. Head
2. Neck
3. Tail
Consists of a head –capsid made of units called capsomeres
Inside the head is the DNA
Neck connects the head to the tail
Tail consist of 2 layers :
Outer contractile sheath and inner hollow core
End is a hexagonal plate which has 6 pins-holding on to the bacteria
6 tail fibers- recognizing the receptors sites on the host
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
VIRIODS:
Infectious RNA particle
Smallest infectious pathogen, smaller than virus
Seemed to be a small RNA, lacked protein coat. Hence the name VIRIODS
Low molecular weight
T.O.DIENER discovered them
Causes POTATO SPINDLE DISEASE
 BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION
LICHENS
Symbiotic associations between Alga and Fungi
Algal component – PHYCOBIONT (autotrophic)
Fungal component – MYCOBIONT(heterotrophic)
ALGAE: prepares food for the Fungi
FUNGI : provides shelter and absorbs mineral nutrients and water for the algal partner.
2 organisms in one
Good indicators of pollution-do not grow in polluted areas