Question

List few advantages of five kingdom classification over two kingdom classification

Answer 1

Two kingdom classification was proposed by Linnaeus. He divided the entire living world into two kingdoms: Kingdom Plantae and Kingdom Animalia. It had many draw backs like:
• Bacteria and fungi were included under plants did not have chlorophyll or perform photosynthesis.
• Some single celled organisms like Euglena cannot be exclusively called plants or animals.
• Bread mould are multicellular but have nothing like roots, stem, or leaves.

Five kingdom classification as proposed by Whittaker is advantageous as it takes into account the following levels:
• Cellular structure: prokaryotes or eukaryotes.​
• ​Modes and source of nutrition: Autotrophs or heterotrophs.
• Body organisation: unicellular or multicellular.
The five kingdoms are:
i. Kingdom Monera
ii. Kingdom Protista
iii. Kingdom Fungi
iv. Kingdom Plantae
v. Kingdom Animalia
Thus, the clear division of organism under five kingdom system make it more advantageous over two-kingdom system of classification.