Illustrate the taxonomical hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal.
[question] Question. Illustrate the taxonomical hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal. [/question] [solution] Solution: The arrangement of various taxa in a hierarchical order is called taxonomic hierarchy. In this hierarchy, species is present at the lowest level whereas kingdom is present at the highest level. Classification of a plant As an example, let us classify Solanum melongena (Brinjal). Kingdom – Plantae Division – Angiospermae Class – Dicotyledonae Order – Solanale...
How is a key helpful in the identification
[question] Question. How is a key helpful in the identification and classification of an organism? [/question] [solution] Solution: Key is another taxonomical aid that helps in identification of plant and animal species. These keys are based on similarities and dissimilarities in characters, generally in a pair called couplet. Each statement in a taxonomic key is referred to as a lead. For categorizing each taxonomic rank, such as family, genus, species, etc., different keys are used. It is also...
Define and understand the following terms:
[question] Question. Define and understand the following terms: (i) Phylum (ii) Class (iii) Family (iv) Order (v) Genus [/question] [solution] Solution: (i) Phylum Phylum is the primary division of kingdom. It includes one or more related classes of animals. In plants, instead of phylum, the term ‘division’ is used. (ii) Class Class is a taxonomic group consisting of one or more related orders. For example, the class, Mammalia, includes many orders. (iii) Family Family is a taxonomic group conta...
Try to collect all the currently accepted meanings for the word ‘species’.
[question] Question. Try to collect all the currently accepted meanings for the word ‘species’. Discuss with your teacher the meaning of species in case of higher plants and animals on one hand and bacteria on the other hand. [/question] [solution] Solution: In biological terms, species is the basic taxonomical rank. It can be defined as a group of similar organisms that are capable of interbreeding under natural conditions to produce fertile offsprings. Therefore, a group of similar individuals...
Can you identify the correct sequence of taxonomical categories?
[question] Question. Can you identify the correct sequence of taxonomical categories? (a) Species $\rightarrow$ Order $\rightarrow$ Phylum $\rightarrow$ Kingdom (b) Genus $\rightarrow$ Species $\rightarrow$ Order $\rightarrow$ Kingdom (c) Species $\rightarrow$ Genus $\rightarrow$ Order $\rightarrow$ Phylum [/question] [solution] Solution: The correct hierarchical arrangement of taxonomic categories in ascending order is Species $\rightarrow$ Genus $\rightarrow$ Family $\rightarrow$ Order $\right...
Define a taxon.
[question] Question. Define a taxon. Give some examples of taxa at different hierarchical levels. [/question] [solution] Solution: Each unit or category of classification is termed as a taxon. It represents a rank. For example, the basic level of classification is species, followed by genus, family, order, class, phylum or division, in ascending order. The highest level of classification is known as kingdom. [/solution]...
Given below is the scientific name of Mango.
[question] Question. Given below is the scientific name of Mango. Identify the correctly written name. Mangifera Indica Mangifera indica [/question] [solution] Solution: In binomial system of nomenclature, the generic name of a species always starts with a capital letter whereas the specific name starts with a small letter. Therefore, the correct scientific name of Mango is Mangifera indica. [/solution]...
What do we learn from identification of individuals and populations?
[question] Question. What do we learn from identification of individuals and populations? [/question] [solution] Solution: The knowledge of characteristics of an individual or its entire population helps in the identification of similarities and dissimilarities among the individuals of same kind or between different types of organisms. It helps the scientists to classify organisms in various categories. [/solution]...
What different criteria would you choose to classify people that you meet often?
[question] Question. What different criteria would you choose to classify people that you meet often? [/question] [solution] Solution: To classify a class of forty students, let us start the classification on the basis of sexes of the students. This classification will result in the formation of two major groups- boys and girls. Each of these two groups can be further classified on the basis of the names of the students falling in these groups. Since it is possible that more than one student can...
Why are the classification systems changing every now and then?
[question] Question. Why are the classification systems changing every now and then? [/question] [solution] Solution: Millions of plants, animals, and microorganisms are found on earth. Many of these have been identified by the scientists while many new species are still being discovered around the world. Therefore, to classify these newly discovered species, new systems of classification have to be devised every now and then. This creates the requirement to change the existing systems of classi...
Why are living organisms classified?
[question] Question. Why are living organisms classified? [question] [solution] Solution: A large variety of plants, animals, and microbes are found on earth. All these living organisms differ in size, shape, colour, habitat, and many other characteristics. As there are millions of living organisms on earth, studying each of them is impossible. Therefore, scientists have devised mechanisms to classify all living organisms. These methods of classification are based on rules and principles that al...