Chapter 1

The Living World

What is living
Taxonomy & Systematics
The Living World
Taxonomic Categories
Taxonomic Aids

LIVING
Living

Characteristics
Non Define (with exception) Define
(without any exception)
(Not a characteristic
Growth feature of living) Reproduction
Consciousness
Metabolism
Increase in Increase in
Mass Cell Number Cellular Organization

Asexual Sexual
Reproduction Reproduction
(Uniparental) (Biparental)
e.g., mostly multicellular and
unicellular organisms
By Budding (Yeast, Hydra)
e.g., Regeneration (Planaria)
Fragmentation – Fungi and Filamentous
algae and protonema of mosses
Non Defining Characteristics
z Growth + Reproduction → Mutually Inclusive Event → Unicellular
z Growth + Reproduction → Mutually Exclusive event → Multicellular
Note:
z Growth in plant is localised & indefinite (throughout life)
z Growth in animal is diffused and definite (up to a limit)
Important:
z Reproduction is not a characteristic feature of living e.g., mules, worker
bees and infertile human.
Irreversible change
z In living — Growth
Intrinsic (occurs due to increase protoplasm)

Defining Characteristics
(a) Metabolism → Catabolism + Anabolism. It mean some of all catabolic
and anabolic reactions in our body.
In vitro → Not a living thing but is a living reaction.
Metabolism is a characteristic feature of living things inside a cell.
(b) Cellular Organisation → Metabolic reaction inside the cell, it mean
cellular organization strictly require for metabolism to define the feature.
(c) Consciousness → The state of being aware of what is around you
and able to sense environment. Consciousness therefore, become the
defining property of living organism.

TAXONOMY AND SYSTEMATICS

z Identification: Correct description of organism.
z Nomenclature: Scientific naming → Binomial nomenclature given by
Linnaeus.
z Classification: Give a particular position of an organism in a particular taxa.
ICBN → International Code for Botanical Nomenclature.
ICZN → International Code for Zoological Nomenclature.
Binomial nomenclature given by Carolus Linnaeus.
Name with two components

Generic name Specific epithet

System Naturae – written by Linnaeus.

TAXONOMIC CATAGORIES
Taxonomic Arrangement
All categories together constitute the taxonomic hierarchy.
Each category referred to as a unit of classification, infact, represent a rank
and as commonly called as taxon (Pl. Taxa):
(i) Species: Group of individual with fundamental similarities e.g., nigrum,
tigris.
(ii) Genus: Group of closely related species e.g., Mangifera
(iii) Family: Group of less related genus e.g., Solanaceac
(iv) Order: The similar characteristics are less in number as compaired to
different genera. Assemblage of families which exhibit a few similar
characteristics e.g., Polymoniale.
(v) Class: Group of related orders e.g., Primata.
(vi) Phylum/Division: In division, related plant classes come in group but in
case of animal, related classes became a part of phylum e.g., Chordata.
(vii) Kingdom: Group of similar phylum or division e.g., Animalia and
Plantae.
Kingdom
↑
Division/Phylum
↑
Class
↑
Order Taxonomic hierarchy
↑
Family
↑
Genus
↑
Species

TAXONOMICAL AIDS
Collection of samples or preserved organisms which help in extensive research
for the identification of various taxonomic hierarchy e.g.,
(i) Herbarium: It is a store house of collected plant specimens that are
dried, pressed and preserved on sheets (42 × 29 cm).
 (ii) Botanical Gardens: Collection of living plant for reference in a
specialised gardens e.g., Kew (England), Indian Botanical Garden,
Kolkata (W.B.).
(iii) Museum: Collection of preserved plants and animal specimens in
colleges for study purpose and reference.
(iv) Zoological Parks: A place where wild animal kept under human care
for learn about food habits and behaviour.
(v) Key: Keys are generally analytical in nature. Keys are based on
contrasting characters generally in a pair called couplet. Each statement
in the key is called lead.
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