Biological Classification
Five Kingdom classification
By R.H. Whittaker
Monera
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Cell type
Prokaryotic
Eukaryotic
Eukaryotic
Eukaryotic
Eukaryotic
Cell wall
Present (Polysaccharide + amino acid)
In some
In some (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 or photosynthetic)
Heterotrophic (Parasitic or saprophytic)
Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Heterotropic
Heterotropic (Parasitic or saprophytic)
Autotropic (photosynthetic)
Heterotrophic
(Holozoic or saprophytic, etc.)
Kingdom Monera
based on shape, Cocci, Bacillus, Spirilla, or Vibrio.
mode of nutrition
Autotrophic - Photoshynthetic and chemosynthetic
Heterotrophic (important decomposers) - Parasitic and saprophytic
based on stain
gream -ve
gram +ve
Reproduction
Fission
Under harsh conditions - spores (Endospores)
Sexually
Conjugation (sex pili) - transfer of genetic material
Archaebacteria
Live in harsh habitats. Salty areas (Halophiles), Hot springs (thermoacidophiles) and marshy areas (Methanogens (Live in the gut of ruminant animals like cows and produce methane)).
Have different cell wall structure which helps them survive in harsh conditions.
Eubacteria
Ridgid cell wall - peptidoglycan.
Cyanobacteria - unicellular - colonial or filamentous - fresh/Marine water or terrestrial algae - surrounded by gelatinous sheaths - form Blues in polluted water - some fix atmospheric nitrogen (heterocysts are photosynthetic (Nostoc, Anabaena))
Chemosynthetic - oxidize chemicals (nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, sulphur) - relese ATP - green sulphur bacteria.