Question

What are three criteria on which the five kingdom classification is based?

Answer 1

Five-kingdom classification:

1. In 1969, R.H. Whittaker proposed the five-kingdom classification which made the study easier and helped overcome the demerits of other classifications.
2. This classification is considered scientific criteria for grouping. The criteria were:

• Cell structure of the organism: Prokaryote or eukaryote.
• Body structure of the organism: Unicellular or multicellular.
• Mode of nutrition in the organism: Autotrophic, heterotrophic, and saprotrophic.

The five kingdoms were:

1. Monera: The organism is unicellular, prokaryotes, with the autotrophic, and heterotrophic modes of nutrition. Example: bacteria, and blue-green algae.
2. Protista: The organism is unicellular or multicellular eukaryotes, with the autotrophic, and heterotrophic modes of nutrition. Example: amoeba.
3. Fungi: The organism is multicellular eukaryotes, with the heterotrophic and saprophytic modes of nutrition. Example: bread mould, yeast, mushroom, etc.
4. Plantae: The organism is multicellular, eukaryotes, with an autotrophic mode of nutrition. Example: neem, pea, etc.
5. Animalia: The organisms are multicellular, eukaryotes, with a heterotrophic mode of nutrition. Example: cow, deer, humans, etc.