🧬 Biological Classification Lab
Interactive Analysis of Whittaker's 5 Kingdoms, Monera Shapes & Viruses
Class 11 Biology - Biological Classification
1. Select Specimen
2. Scan Traits
📊 Taxonomy Log
| Feature | Observation |
|---|
1. Bacteria Shapes
Bacteria are grouped under four categories based on their shape.
2. Microscopy
📊 Lab Record
| Step | Description |
|---|
Acellular Entities
Viruses did not find a place in classification since they are not truly 'living'. Observe their nucleoprotein structure.
📊 Analysis Log
| Feature | Observation |
|---|
5 Kingdom Matcher
Drag the organisms/traits to their correct Kingdom bucket.
Monera
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
📚 Chapter Notes: Biological Classification
R.H. Whittaker's 5 Kingdom Classification (1969)
The main criteria for classification used by him include cell structure, body organisation, mode of nutrition, reproduction and phylogenetic relationships.
- Monera: Prokaryotic, unicellular.
- Protista: Eukaryotic, unicellular.
- Fungi: Eukaryotic, multicellular/loose tissue, chitin wall, heterotrophic.
- Plantae: Eukaryotic, tissue/organ, cellulosic wall, autotrophic.
- Animalia: Eukaryotic, tissue/organ/system, no cell wall, heterotrophic.
Kingdom Monera
Bacteria are the sole members of the Kingdom Monera. They are grouped under four categories based on their shape:
- Coccus (pl.: cocci): Spherical.
- Bacillus (pl.: bacilli): Rod-shaped. They sometimes contain spores.
- Spirillum (pl.: spirilla): Spiral-shaped. Often have flagella.
- Vibrio (pl.: vibrio): Comma-shaped.
Viruses, Viroids and Prions
In the five-kingdom classification, there is no mention of acellular organisms like viruses. They are non-cellular organisms characterized by having an inert crystalline structure outside the living cell.
- Structure: A virus is a nucleoprotein and the genetic material is infectious. The protein coat is called a capsid made of small subunits called capsomeres, which protects the nucleic acid.
- Bacteriophage: Viruses that infect bacteria. Usually double-stranded DNA viruses. Have a distinct head, collar, sheath, and tail fibers.
- TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus): Plant virus. Usually single-stranded RNA. Helical capsid structure.
