BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

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NCERT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. Discuss how classification systems have undergone several changes over a period of time?
Earlier the system of classification was based on superficial resemblances. These systems were artificial. E.g.
animals were classified as aquatic, terrestrial and aerial. Plants were classified as herbs, shrubs and trees based on
their habit.
Artificial systems were followed by natural system. It is based on structural and morphological, physiological,
cytological, ontogeny and taxonomic characters.
Now a days, the organisms are classified on the basis of their evolutionary interrelationship. Such classifications are
phylogenetic.
Recently, phenetic classification has evolved. It is a system of phylogenetic classification which is based on
affinities, similarities and dissimilarities of characteristics present in the present-day organisms without searching for
the evolution and diversification of these traits in their fossil ancestors.
2. State two economically important uses of: (a) heterotrophic bacteria (b) archaebacteria
(a) heterotrophic bacteria:
They act as natural scavengers by removing harmful organic wastes.
In soil, they improve the fertility of soil by formation of humus, manure etc.
Some bacteria are used to produce lactic acid, curd, cheese, butter, vinegar etc.
(b) Archaebacteria:
These are used in the production of methane (biogas) from animal wastes. Biogas is used to run a generator that
produces electricity, e. g., Halobacterium, Thermoplasma.
3. What is the nature of cell-walls in diatoms?
Diatoms have siliceous cell walls forming two thin overlapping shells, which fit together as in a soap box. The cell
wall deposit of diatoms over billions of years in their habitat is known as ‘diatomaceous earth’.
4. Find out what do the terms ‘algal bloom’ and ‘red-tides’ signify.
The rapid increase in populations of algae and other phytoplankton, in particular cyanobacteria that occurs in inland
water systems, such as lakes is called algal bloom.
Red dianoflagellates (E.g. Gonyaulax) undergo rapid multiplication so that the sea appears red. This phenomenon
is called red tides. They release toxins that kill marine animals like fishes.
5. How are viroids different from viruses?
Differences between virus and viroid:
Virus Viroid
It is a nucleoprotein particle. It is an RNA particle.
Nucleic acid can be DNA or RNA. It is formed of only RNA
A protein covering or coat is present. A protein coat is absent.
Large sized. Smaller sized.
It infects all types of organisms. It infects only plants.
6. Describe briefly the four major groups of Protozoa.
4 major groups of protozoans:
o Amoeboid protozoans: They live in fresh water, sea water or moist soil. They move and capture prey by putting
out pseudopodia (false feet). E.g. Amoeba. Marine forms have silica shells on their surface. Some of them are
parasites. E.g. Entamoeba.
o Flagellated protozoans: They are either free-living or parasitic. They have flagella. The parasitic forms cause
diseases such as sleeping sickness. E.g. Trypanosoma.
o Ciliated protozoans: They are aquatic, actively moving organisms using thousands of cilia. They have a cavity
(gullet) that opens to outside. By the movement of cilia, the water with food enters gullet. E.g. Paramoecium.
o Sporozoans: They are organisms that have an infectious spore-like stage in their life cycle. E.g. Plasmodium
(malarial parasite).
7. Plants are autotrophic. Can you think of some plants that are partially heterotrophic?

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 Insectivorous plants like Drocera, Nepenthes, Utricularia are partially heterotrophic plants. These plants are
deficient in nitrogen content but are otherwise autotrophic. They trap various insects to obtain nitrogen from them.
Rest of the food i.e., carbohydrate is manufactured by themselves.
8. What do the terms phycobiont and mycobiont signify?
Lichens are symbiotic associations (mutually useful associations) between algae & fungi.
The algal component is called phycobiont (autotrophic) and fungal component is mycobiont (heterotrophic).
Algae prepare food for fungi and fungi provide shelter and absorb mineral nutrients and water for its partner.
9. Give a comparative account of the classes of Kingdom Fungi under the following:
(i) mode of nutrition
(ii) mode of reproduction
Mode of nutrition and mode of reproduction of different classes of Kingdom Fungi:
Class Mode of nutrition Mode of reproduction
Asexual reproduction: By zoospores (motile) or by
They occur in aquatic habitats aplanospores (non-motile). These are produced in
and on decaying wood in moist sporangium.
Phycomycetes
and damp places or as obligate Sexual reproduction: Zygospores are formed by fusion
parasites on plants. of two gametes. These gametes are isogamous (similar in
morphology) or anisogamous or oogamous (dissimilar).
Asexual reproduction: By conidia produced
exogenously on the special mycelium called
They are saprophytic,
conidiophores. Conidia germinate to produce mycelium.
Ascomycetes decomposers, parasitic or
Sexual reproduction: By ascospores produced
coprophilous (growing on dung).
endogenously in sac like asci (sing. ascus). The asci are
arranged to form fruiting bodies called ascocarps.
The asexual spores are generally not found, but
vegetative reproduction by fragmentation is common.
The sex organs are absent, but plasmogamy occurs by
They grow in soil, on logs and fusion of two vegetative or somatic cells of different
tree stumps and in living plant strains or genotypes. The resultant structure is dikaryotic
Basidiomycetes
bodies as parasites (e.g., rusts and which gives rise to basidium. Karyogamy and meiosis
smuts). take place in basidium producing four basidiospores.
Basidiospores are exogenously produced on the
basidium. Basidia are arranged in fruiting bodies
(basidiocarps).
Some are saprophytes or
parasites. Majority are
Deuteromycetes They reproduce only by asexual spores (conidia).
decomposers of litter and help in
mineral cycling.
10. What are the characteristic features of Euglenoids?
They are mainly fresh water organisms found in stagnant water.
Instead of a cell wall, they have a protein rich layer called pellicle. It makes their body flexible.
They have two flagella, a short and a long one.
They are photosynthetic in the presence of sunlight. In the absence of sunlight they behave like heterotrophs by
predating on other smaller organisms.
The pigments are identical to those in higher plants.
11. Give a brief account of viruses with respect to their structure and nature of genetic material. Also name four
common viral diseases.
A virus is a nucleoprotein, i.e., it has a protein coat (capsid) & genetic material (RNA or DNA).
The genetic material is infectious.
No virus contains both RNA & DNA.
Generally, viruses that infect plants have single stranded RNA. Viruses that infect animals have either single or double
stranded RNA or double stranded DNA. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) usually have double stranded
DNA.

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 The capsid made of small subunits (capsomeres) protects nucleic acid. Capsomeres are arranged in helical or
polyhedral geometric forms.
Viruses cause diseases like mumps, small pox, herpes, influenza & AIDS.
12. Organise a discussion in your class on the topic – Are viruses living or non-living?
Viruses are the intermediate between non-living substances and living organisms.
Resemblances with non-living objects:
a. Lack protoplast.
b. Ability to get crystallized, e.g., TMV, Poliomyelitis virus.
c. Inability to live independent of living cell.
d. High specific gravity which is found only in non-living objects.
e. Absence of respiration.
f. Absence of energy storing system.
g. Absence of growth and division. Instead different parts are synthesised separately.
Resemblances with living beings:
a. Being formed of organic macromolecules which occur only in living beings.
b. Presence of genetic material.
c. Ability to multiply or reproduce.
d. Occurrence of mutations.
e. Occurrence of enzyme transcriptase in most viruses.
f. Some viruses like Pox virus contain vitamins like riboflavin and biotin.
g. Occurrence of antigenic properties.
h. Infectivity and host specificity.
i. They take over biosynthetic machinery of the host cell and produce chemicals required for their
multiplication.
j. Viruses are ‘killed’ by autoclaving and ultraviolet rays.
k. They breed true to their type. Even variations are inheritable.
l. Viruses cause many infectious diseases like common cold, epidemic influenza, chicken pox etc.