Biological Classification Lecture Notes

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers biological classification history, the Five Kingdom system defined by R.H. Whittaker, and specific characteristics of Kingdom Monera, Kingdom Protista, and Kingdom Fungi based on the provided lecture transcript.

Aristotle

The earliest scientist to attempt a more scientific basis for classification, using simple morphological characters to classify plants into trees, shrubs, and herbs, and dividing animals into red-blooded and non-red-blooded groups.

Linnaeus

The scientist during whose time the Two Kingdom system of classification (Plantae and Animalia) was developed.

R.H. Whittaker (1969)

Proposed the Five Kingdom Classification based on cell structure, thallus organisation, mode of nutrition, reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships.

Five Kingdom Classification

The system comprising Kingdom Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.

Phylogenetic relationships

Classification criteria based on evolutionary relationships.

Kingdom Monera

The kingdom that includes all prokaryotic organisms, with bacteria being the sole members.

Kingdom Protista

The kingdom consisting of all single-celled eukaryotes, serving as a link between plants, animals, and fungi.

Kingdom Fungi

A unique kingdom of heterotrophic organisms characterized by cell walls made of chitin and polysaccharides.

Coccus (pl.: cocci)

Spherical-shaped bacteria.

Bacillus (pl.: bacilli)

Rod-shaped bacteria.

Vibrium (pl.: vibrio)

Comma-shaped bacteria.

Spirillum (pl.: spirilla)

Spiral-shaped bacteria.

Archaebacteria

Special bacteria that live in harsh habitats, differing from other bacteria in their cell wall structure.

Halophiles

Archaebacteria that live in extreme salty areas.

Thermoacidophiles

Archaebacteria that live in hot springs.

Methanogens

Archaebacteria found in marshy areas and the guts of ruminants, responsible for producing methane (biogas) from dung.

Cyanobacteria

Also called blue-green algae, they are photosynthetic autotrophs containing chlorophyll $a$ similar to green plants.

Heterocysts

Specialised cells in organisms like Nostoc and Anabaena used for fixing atmospheric nitrogen.

Chemosynthetic autotrophic bacteria

Bacteria that oxidise inorganic substances like nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia to produce ATP.

Mycoplasma

The smallest living cells known that completely lack a cell wall and can survive without oxygen; many are pathogenic.

Chrysophytes

A group under Protista including diatoms and golden algae (desmids), found in fresh and marine water.

Diatomaceous earth

Accumulations of silica-embedded cell wall deposits from diatoms over billions of years, used in polishing and filtration.

Dinoflagellates

Mostly marine photosynthetic protists with stiff cellulose plates on their outer surface and two flagella.

Red tides

A phenomenon caused by the rapid multiplication of red dinoflagellates like Gonyaulax, which can make the sea appear red and release toxins.

Euglenoids

Freshwater organisms that lack a cell wall and instead have a protein-rich layer called a pellicle.

Pellicle

A protein-rich layer in euglenoids that makes their body flexible.

Slime Moulds

Saprophytic protists that form aggregations called plasmodium under suitable conditions.

Plasmodium (Slime Moulds)

An aggregation formed by slime moulds that can grow and spread over several feet.

Amoeboid protozoans

Protozoans that move and capture prey using pseudopodia (false feet), such as Amoeba.

Flagellated protozoans

Protozoans that possess flagella; examples include Trypanosoma, which causes sleeping sickness.

Ciliated protozoans

Aquatic protozoans that use thousands of cilia for movement and steering food into their gullet, such as Paramoecium.

Sporozoans

Protozoans with an infectious spore-like stage in their life cycle, such as Plasmodium (the malarial parasite).

Hyphae

The long, slender, thread-like structures that make up the body of filamentous fungi.

Mycelium

The network formed by hyphae in fungi.

Coenocytic hyphae

Continuous tubes in fungi filled with multinucleated cytoplasm.

Saprophytes

Heterotrophic organisms that absorb soluble organic matter from dead substrates.

Lichens

Symbiotic associations between fungi and algae.

Mycorrhiza

Symbiotic associations between fungi and the roots of higher plants.