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MIND MAP
By: Dr. Anand Mani
What is Living?
When we try to define living we simply understand that what living is as opposed
to the non-living
• There are some unique features of living organisms such as growth,
reproduction, ability to sense environment, metabolism, ability to self replicate,
self organize and interact.
FEATURES DEFINING OR SEEN IN
CHARACTERISTICS
GROWTH Characteristic Both living (Intrinsic) and non living objects
Increase in mass and increase in (Extrinsic)
number
CLASSIFICATION:
• Classification is process by which anything is grouped into convenient
categories. The scientific terms for these categories is taxa. (Dogs, cats,
mammals, plants etc.)
• Hence, based on characteristics, all living organisms can be classified into
different taxa. This process is called taxonomy.
• Taxa can indicate categories at very different levels. E.g., animals,
mammals and dogs represent taxa at different levels.
• Taxonomy and evolutionary relationship = systematics.
• Morphology, anatomy, cell structure, development process and ecological
informations are basis of modern taxonomic studies.
• Characterization, identification, classification and nomenclature are basics
of taxonomy.
TAXONOMIC CATEGORIES
• Each step in classification is called category or rank.
• As it is a part of taxonomy hence called taxonomic category
and all categories constitute taxonomic hierarchy.
• There are seven obligate categories.
• Sub categories are also developed by scientists.
• The number of common characteristics goes on decreasing
from species to kingdom.
• Each rank or taxon infect, represents a unit of classification.
[4]
A Kingdom
S
C Phylum/division]For plants division is used, has related classes
E
N Class] Has assemblage of related orders
D
I Order] Has related families characterized mainly on floral characters
N
G
Family Comprises a group of related genera. Characterized on the basis of
O both vegetative and floral characters
R
D Genus] Comprises a group of related species
E
R Species (Basic and lowest category)
: Phylum/
[5]
• The word systematics is derived from Latin word ‘systema’ which means
• Systematic arrangement of organisms.
Higher the category, greater is the difficulty of determining the relationship to other taxa
at the same level. Hence, the problem of classification becomes more complex.
Organisms with their Taxonomic Categories
Common Biological Genus Family Order Class Phylum/
Name Name Division
Man Homo Homo Hominidae Primata Mammalia Chordata
sapiens
Housefly Musca Musca Muscidae Diptera Insecta Arthropoda
domestica
Mango Mangifera Mangifera Anacardia Sapindales Dicotyledo Angiosper
Indica ceae nae mae
Wheat Triticum Triticum Poaceae Poales Monocotyl Angiosper
aestivum edonae mae
Taxonomical Aids
• These aids are prime source of Museum
Monograph contains information of any one taxon
taxonomical studies.
- Generally setup in schools
Monograph educational institutes
Herbarium - Has preserved plant and
animal specimens, large
- Store house of dried, presses
Taxonomical aids animals are usually stuffed
and preserved plant specimens
- Insects are preserved in
pasted on sheets
insects boxes.
- Each sheet carries a label
which has information of Keys Manual
specimen
- Analytical in nature
- Are useful in providing
Flora - Based on contrasting
information for identification of
characters generally in
- Provides the index to the names of species found in an
Botanical Gardens pair, couplet
plant species found in a area.
- Based on similarities and
particular area. - Have collection of living dissimilarities Zoological parks
plants for reference - Each statement is called a
- Each plants is labelled lead - Wild animals are kept in their
- Largest Botanical garden at natural environment
Kew (England) Indian
Botanical Garden in
Howrah.
THANK YOU