Question

Two kingdom system of classification was given by

• A. Linnaeus
• B. Haeckel
• C. Copeland
• D. Whittaker

Answer 1

The correct option is A Linnaeus

Two kingdom system of classification was given by Carolus Linnaeus. He classified all the organisms into two kingdoms, Plantae and Animalia. But this system of classification did not distinguish the prokaryotes and eukaryotes, unicellular and multicellular organisms, photosynthetic and non photosynthetic organisms.

Haeckel proposed the three kingdom system of classification. The three kingdoms were Animalia, Plantae and Protista. This system of classification also had shortcomings as prokaryotes and eukaryotes were placed together in kingdom Protista.

Copeland proposed the four kingdom system of classification. He introduced the kingdom Monera in which all prokaryotes were included. This too had demerits as unicellular and multicellular organisms with varied modes of nutrition were placed in the same kingdom, Protista.

Hence, a five kingdom system of classification was proposed by Whittaker. The five kingdoms defined by him were Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. The main criteria for classification used by him were cell structure, thallus organisation, mode of nutrition, reproduction and phylogenetic relationships.