Question

Give answers.
A. State the merits of whitetaker's method of classification.
B. Write the characteristics of viruses.
C. Explain the nutrition in fungi.
D. Which living organisms are included in the kingdom monera ?

Answer 1

a. The merits of Whitakker's method of classification are:

• Unicellular and multicellular organisms are kept under separate categories.
• Autotrophs and heterotrophs are placed in separate groups.
• A separate kingdom was assigned to fungi because of its mode of nutrition.
• It is more natural than two kingdom classification.
• Prokaryotes are placed under a separate category of monera.
  

b. The various characteristics of viruses are:

• They are smaller and simpler than bacteria.
• They are ultra microscopic and visible only under electron microscope.
• They are considered to be on the boundary line of living and non-living things.
• They are obligate parasites and cannot live on their own.
• They cannot multiply on their own. They require living machinery to multiply.
• Viruses consist of genetic materials (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective coat of protein (capsid).
• Viruses are responsible for causing many dreadful diseases in plants, animals, and humans.​

c. The mode of nutrition in fungi is saprotropic and they are called saprophytes. It is a mode of nutrition in which an organism obtains its nutrients from the decaying organic matter.

d. Organisms with following characteristics are inlcuded under the kingdom monera:

• Absence of nucleus and membrane-bound organelles
• Presence or absence of cell wall
• Can be either autotrophic or heterotrophic
• Are all unicellular and include mainly bacteria and blue green algae

Examples include bacteria and blue green algae.