Summary & Tables
TABLE 2.1: Characteristics of the Five Kingdoms
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| Characters | Monera | Protista | Fungi | Plantae | Animalia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cell type | Prokaryotic | Eukaryotic | Eukaryotic | Eukaryotic | Eukaryotic |
| Cell wall | Noncellulosic (Polysaccharide + amino acid) | Present in some | Present with chitin | Present (cellulose) | Absent |
| Nuclear membrane | Absent | Present | Present | Present | Present |
| Body organisation | Cellular | Cellular | Multicellular / loose tissue | Tissue / organ | Tissue / organ / organ system |
| Mode of nutrition | Autotrophic (chemosynthetic & photosynthetic) and Heterotrophic | Autotrophic (Photosynthetic) and Heterotrophic | Heterotrophic (Saprophytic / Parasitic) | Autotrophic (Photosynthetic) | Heterotrophic (Holozoic / Saprophytic etc.) |
Comparison of Fungi Classes
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| Class | Common Name | Mycelium | Asexual Reproduction | Sexual Reproduction | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phycomycetes | Algal Fungi | Aseptate and coenocytic | Zoospores (motile) or Aplanospores (non-motile) | Zygospore formed by fusion of gametes | Mucor, Rhizopus, Albugo |
| Ascomycetes | Sac-fungi | Branched and septate | Conidia on conidiophores | Ascospores in Asci | Penicillium, Yeast, Aspergillus, Neurospora |
| Basidiomycetes | Mushrooms / Bracket fungi | Branched and septate | Vegetative reproduction by fragmentation (Spores usually absent) | Basidiospores in Basidium (Plasmogamy occurs) | Agaricus, Ustilago, Puccinia |
| Deuteromycetes | Imperfect Fungi | Branched and septate | Only Conidia | Sexual phase is unknown or absent | Alternaria, Colletotrichum, Trichoderma |
Chapter Summary
Biological classification has evolved from Aristotle's simple morphological approach to Linnaeus's Two Kingdom system, and finally to R.H. Whittaker's (1969) Five Kingdom Classification. Whittaker's system is based on cell structure, body organisation, mode of nutrition, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships.
Key Groups:
- Monera: Includes all prokaryotic bacteria (Archaebacteria and Eubacteria). They show the most extensive metabolic diversity.
- Protista: Includes single-celled eukaryotes (Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids, Slime moulds, and Protozoans). They form a link between Monera and the other kingdoms.
- Fungi: A unique kingdom of heterotrophic organisms with chitinous cell walls. They are divided into four classes based on morphology of mycelium and mode of spore formation.
- Plantae & Animalia: Multicellular eukaryotes. Plants are autotrophic with cellulosic walls; Animals are heterotrophic, lack cell walls, and have a holozoic mode of nutrition.
Note on Acellular Organisms: Viruses, Viroids, Prions, and Lichens are not included in the Five Kingdom Classification. Viruses are non-cellular, inert crystalline structures outside the living cell that become active inside a host.