Classification of Organism

“Classification helps in understanding the relationships among various organisms and makes the study of a large number of organisms manageable.”

What is Biological Classification?

Biological classification is the scientific process of grouping organisms into categories based on their similarities and differences. This helps in the identification, naming, and categorization of species for easier study and understanding.

Hierarchy of Classification

The modern system of classification uses a hierarchical structure:

Kingdom
Phylum (or Division for plants)
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Five Kingdom Classification

Proposed by R.H. Whittaker in 1969, this system divides organisms into five kingdoms:

Monera: Unicellular, prokaryotic organisms (e.g., bacteria)
Protista: Unicellular, eukaryotic organisms (e.g., amoeba, paramecium)
Fungi: Multicellular, heterotrophic organisms (e.g., mushrooms, yeast)
Plantae: Multicellular, autotrophic plants (e.g., algae, mosses, flowering plants)
Animalia: Multicellular, heterotrophic animals (e.g., humans, insects, fish)

Binomial Nomenclature

Developed by Carolus Linnaeus, it is the system of naming organisms using two Latin names:

Genus name (capitalized)
Species name (lowercase)

Example: Homo sapiens (Human), Panthera leo (Lion)

Did You Know? There are over 8.7 million species estimated on Earth, but only about 1.2 million have been officially identified.

Conclusion

Classification helps scientists understand the vast diversity of life and provides a universal system to name and organize living organisms. It is a fundamental aspect of biological study and is constantly evolving with new scientific discoveries.