Chapter

Biological
2 Classification
Biological classification is the grouping of organisms into groups (ii) Natural system of classification: It is the system of
and sub groups based on their similarities and dissimilarities. classification which takes several morphological characters for
grouping of organisms, so as to bring out natural similarities
and dissimilarities and hence natural relationships among the
IMPORTANCE OF CLASSIFICATION organisms.
y The natural system of classification has specific advantages
(i) It makes the study of large number of living organisms easy.
over the artificial system of classification.
(ii) It gives an idea of whole range of diversity found in
² It avoids the heterogeneous grouping of unrelated
organisms.
organisms.
(iii) It provides information about inter-relationships among
² It helps in placing only related groups of organisms
organisms.
together.
(iv) It gives an idea of evolution of various groups of organisms.
² It indicates the natural relationships among
(v) It gives a system for identification of known and unknown
organisms.
organisms.
² It also provides a clear view on the evolutionary
relationship between different groups of living
THREE TYPES OF CLASSIFICATION organisms.
(iii) Two kingdom classification: The natural system of
(i) Artificial system of classification: It is a system of classification classification was given by the Swedish biologist, Carolus
which uses one or two morphological characters for grouping Linnaeus (1707-1778).
of organisms. Evolution of classification
y For example, Aristotle in 350 BC tried to classify the
1. Two Kingdom Classificaiton Kingdom: Plantae (All plants)
organisms on the basis of their form and habitat. He used (Carolus Linnaeus, 1758) Kingdom: Animalia (All animals)
simple morphological characters to classify plants. He 2. Three Kingdom Kindgom: Protista (Unicelluar organisms)
divided plants into herbs, shrubs and trees. He divided Classification (Ernst Kingdom: Plantae (Multicellular plants)
animals into those with RBC’s and those who do not have it. Haeckel, 1866)
Kingdom: Animalla (Multicellular animals)
y There are many other examples of ancient classification 3. Four Kingdom Classification Kingdom: Monera (Prokaryotic organisms)
(Copeland, 1966)
systems that are based mainly on superficial characteristics. Kingdom: Protista (Primitive eukaryotes)
Kingdom: Metaphyta (Advanced eukaryotic plants)
y Therefore this artificial system of classification has some
Kingdom: Metazoa (Advanced eukaryotic animals)
serious drawbacks like:
4. Five Kingdom Classification Kingdom: Monera
² The criteria used for classification are superficial and (Whittaker R.H., 1869) Kingdom: Protista
do not reflect the natural relationships. Kingdom: Mycota (Exclusively for fungi)
² The system does not reflect the evolutionary relationship Kingdom: Metaphyta
between the organisms. Kingdom: Metazoa
² Many unrelated organisms are placed in the same
group on the basis of their habitats (dwelling place) y Linnaeus is known as father of classification as he, for the
(For example, whales and fishes in the same group). first time, classified the living organisms in a systematic way.
² Closely related organisms have been placed in
different groups because of the differences in their
habitat, feeding habits, etc.
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16 BIOLOGY

TWO KINGDOM CLASSIFICATIONS THREE KINGDOM CLASSIFICATION

Linnaeus classified all the living organisms under two large y Haeckel in 1866 proposed three kingdom classifications.
kingdoms. y He divided the living organisms into three kingdoms: Plantae,
Protista and Animalia.
y Kingdom Plantae: This kingdom includes bacteria
(Prokaryotes), photosynthetic plants and non-photosynthetic
fungi. FOUR KINGDOM CLASSIFICATION
y Kingdom Animalia: This kingdom includes unicellular
protozoans and multi-cellular animals or metazoans. y Copeland in 1956 created a separate kingdom of Monera.
Limitations of Two Kingdom System of Classification are This divided the living world into four kingdoms- Monera,
Protista, Plantae and Animalia.
(i) Certain organisms like Euglena and Sponges, share the
y In this system fungi continued to remain with kingdom
characteristics of both plants and animals.
Plantae.
For example,
² In Euglena, some species have chlorophyll and are
autotrophic like plants. A few species of Euglena lack FIVE KINGDOM CLASSIFICATION
chloroplasts and are therefore colourless and non-
photosynthetic (heterotrophic). y R.H. Whittaker (1969), an American Taxonomist divided all
the organisms into 5 kingdoms based on their evolutionary
² They have a saprotrophic mode of nutrition, carrying
relationship among themselves.
out extra-cellular digestion. Other colourless forms
The five kingdom classification is based on the following criteria
ingest small food particles and carryout intracellular y Complexity of Cell structure – Prokaryote to Eukaryote
digestion (holozoic nutrition). y Mode of nutrition – Autotrophs and heterotrophs
² Euglena is also characterized by the presence of an y Body organization - Unicellular or multi-cellular
animal pigment as taxanthin in the eye spot. y Phylogenetic or evolutionary relationship
(ii) Fungi and moulds were placed under Kingdom Plantae but The five kingdoms are
they possess many characters not common to plants. Fungi (a) Monera: Prokaryotes. E.g. Bacteria and cyanobacteria.
lack chlorophyll. They are heterotrophic like animals. (b) Protista: Unicellular eukaryotes. E.g. Unicellular algae,
(iii) Bacteria and Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) have many diatoms and protozoa.
similarities between them and are quite different from other (c) Plantae: Multicellular producers. E.g. Plants.
organisms. Thus, it is difficult to place them in their plant (d) Fungi: Multicellular decomposers. E.g. Fungi and moulds.
(e) Animalia: Multicellular consumers, E.g. Animals.
or animal kingdom.
(iv) The status of virus whether they are living or non-living is
a point of debate even today.
Characteristics of Five Kingdom System of Classification

Characteristics Five Kingdoms

Monera Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Cell type Prokaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic
Cell Mostly unicellular Mostly unicellular Multicellular Mostly Mostly
organization and unicellular Multicellular (Tissue/ Multicellular (Tissue/
Organ system) organ/organ system level)
Cell wall Non-cellulosic May or may not be Present (without Present (cellulose) Present
(Polysaccharide + amino present. cellulose)
acid)
Mode of Autotrophic Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Autotrophic by Heterotrophic by
Nutrition (Chemosynthetic and Heterotrophic (Saprophytic and photosynthesis ingestion
Photosynthetic) parasitic)
Heterotrophic (Saprophytic
and Parasitic)
Motility Motile or non-motile Motile or non-motile Non motile Mostly non-motile Mostly motile
Reproduction Conjugation/ Transduction/ Syngamy and meiosis, Fertilization and Fertilization and Fertilization and meiosis
Transformation or None conjugation or None meiosis. Dikaryosis meiosis
or none
 Biological Classification 17

Merits of five kingdom classification are (d) Palisade Bacillus (in the form of a stack)
(iii) Vibrio (comma shaped)
yy It reflects better relationship among organisms with regard (iv) Sprillum (spiral shaped).
to levels of organization and mode of nutrition.
yy It reflects better evolutionary trend indicating gradual
evolution of complex organisms from simpler ones.
yy It gives better placement to certain controversial groups like
cyanobacteria, fungi, Euglena, etc.
yy Separation of kingdom Fungi from plants seems to be
justified as fungi bear own type of structural, physiological
as well as biochemical characters.
Fig.  Bacteria of different shapes
Demerits of five kingdom classification are
Structure of a bacterial cell
yy The position of virus is not clear.
yy Cell wall: It is the outermost covering of the bacterial cell.
yy Kingdom Protista includes organisms having diverse form,
Cell wall is rigid, which protects and gives shape to the cell.
structure and life cycle, hence does not seem to be proper
The cell wall is made of compound peptidoglycan.
grouping.
yy Some organisms included under Protista (e.g. Dinoflagellates) yy Plasma Membrane: Plasma membrane, present below the
are not eukaryotic rather mesokaryotic. cell wall, encloses the cytoplasm and other cell contents. It
yy Slime moulds placed under Protista differ considerably from is made up of lipids and proteins.
the rest of protists. yy Pili: Pili are short and thin thread like structures projecting
yy The three higher kingdoms are Plantae, Fungi and Animalia out from the cell wall in some bacteria.
seem to be polyphyletic. yy Flagella: Some bacteria move with the help of one or two
However, despite of all these demerits Whittaker’s five kingdom flagella. Flagella have 9+1 arrangement of microtubules.
system is widely accepted. Flagella are longer and thicker than pili.

KINGDOM MONERA (Kingdom of prokaryotes)

This kingdom includes all prokaryotic organisms i.e. mycoplasma,
bacteria, actinomycetes (filamentous bacteria) and cyanobacteria
(commonly known as blue green algae).
yy They are microscopic.
yy Monera is the only prokaryotic kingdom. They do not
possess a true nucleus. They lack membrane bound
organelles.
yy Bacteria were the first organisms to evolve on planet earth
after life originated around 3.5 billion years ago. They are
the most numerous of all living organisms.
yy All bacteria and cyanobacteria are unicellular (Single-celled
organisms).
The branch of study that deals with bacteria is called Bacteriology.

Shapes of bacteria
Bacteria are grouped under four categories based on their shape.
(i) Coccus (spherical): They can be further distinguished into
(a) Monococcus (occur singly)
(b) Diplococcus (occur in pairs) Fig.  Structure of a bacterial cell
(c) Tetracoccus (occur in groups of four)
yy Genetic material (DNA): Bacteria have one circular
(d) Streptococcus (occur in the form of a filament) and
chromosome made of a double helical molecule of DNA. It
(e) Staphylococcus (occur in the form of sheets).
is located in a region of the cytoplasm called nucleoid. Since
(ii) Bacillus (rod-shaped): They may be further distinguished
the chromosome is not lodged within a true nucleus, bacteria
into
are termed prokaryotes. Apart from the chromosome many
(a) Monobacillus (single)
species of bacteria possess rings of DNA called plasmids,
(b) Diplobacillus (in pairs)
which replicate along with bacterial chromosome and bear
(c) Streptobacillus (in filamentous form) and
genes for antibiotic resistance, sex factor etc.
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18 BIOLOGY

y Cell organelles: The cell has ribosomes but no membrane Respiration

bound organelles.
y Respiration in bacteria may be either
Note: (i) Aerobic i.e. using oxygen for respiration or
(ii) Anaerobic i.e. respiration in the absence of oxygen.
Prokaryotes have no nuclear membrane around genetic
Example: Some monerans like Archaebacteria.
material and no cell organelles. They have only the
y Cellular respiration or breakdown of food to release energy
ribosomes. occurs in mesosomes which are the inner extensions of the
cell membrane.
Gram staining
y A Danish physician Christian Gram, in 1884 devised a Reproduction
technique of differential staining called gram staining for (i) Asexual Reproduction: Bacteria reproduce asexually
bacterial cells.
by binary fission under favourable conditions. During
y Gram staining is one method used to classify bacteria.
binary fission, the chromosome copies itself, forming two
Bacteria are differentiated into Gram-positive and Gram- genetically identical copies. Then, the cell enlarges and
negative based on the ability to retain a purple dye. The divides into two new daughter cells. The two daughter cells
ability to retain the dye depends on the type of cell wall and are identical to the parent cell. Binary fission can happen
outer membrane the bacterium has. very rapidly. It takes about 20 minutes for one bacterium
y Gram-positive bacteria stains purple with Gram stain. This is to divide into two by binary fission.
because they have a thick cell wall (made of peptidoglycan) (ii) Sexual Reproduction: Sexual reproduction does not
without an outer membrane. occur in bacteria. But not all new bacteria are clones. This
Examples: Cyanobacteria, Treponema pallidum, is because bacteria can still combine and exchange DNA.
Escherichia coli, Shigella sp., Yersinia pestis, Vibrio This exchange occurs in three different ways:
cholerae. (a) Conjugation: Conjugation involves transfer of DNA
y Gram-negative bacteria stains red with Gram stain. This from one bacterium to another through an extension
is because they have a thin cell wall (peptidoglycan layer) on the surface.
with an outer membrane composed of Lipopolisakarisa (b) Transformation: In transformation, bacteria pick up
(LPS) and protein. pieces of DNA from their environment.
Examples: Salmonella, Corynebacterium diptheriae, (c) Transduction: In transduction, viruses that infect
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. bacteria carry DNA from one bacterium to another.
Nutrition Beneficial and harmful bacteria
The four nutritional categories found in bacteria are: They harm us by causing many diseases. On the other hand some
(i) Autotrophs: Some bacteria are autotrophic and are bacteria are very useful.
photosynthetic i.e. they can synthesize their organic food
in the presence of sunlight e.g. Spirillum. Beneficial Activities of Bacteria
(ii) Chemotrophs: Some bacteria are chemosynthetic Bacterium Function
i.e. they can synthesize their organic food by deriving
energy from some chemical reactions. e.g. Nitrosomonas Rhizobium It is found in roots of legumes (peas, grams, pulses etc).
and Nitrobacter. Many other bacteria like Rhizobium, It fixes atmospheric nitrogen as ammonia, which is then
converted into useful amino acid.
Azotobacter and Clostridium can fix atmospheric nitrogen
into ammonia. This phenomenon is called biological Azotobacter It makes the soil fertile. It fixes atmospheric nitrogen
nitrogen fixation. in the soil.
(iii) Saprotrophs: Some bacteria feed on dead and decaying Streptomycetes It is used to produce the antibiotic called Streptomycin.
matter. Lactobacillus It ferments lactose (milk sugar) to lactic acid. This helps
(iv) Symbionts (Mutualism): Some use food from other in setting of milk into curd.
living organisms with which they are associated for mutual
benefit. For example, some bacteria live in the roots of Methanogenic It helps in sewage treatment.
legumes, such as pea plants. The bacteria turn nitrogen- Diseases Caused by Bacteria
containing molecules into nitrogen that the plant can use.
Meanwhile, the root provides nutrients to the bacteria. In Bacterium Disease caused
this relationship, both the bacteria and the plant benefit, so Vibrio cholerae Cholera
it is known as a mutualism.
Salmonella typhi Typhoid
(v) Parasites: Some are parasitic. They absorb food from living
organisms and cause harm to them. Clostridium tetani Tetanus
Corynebacterium diptheriae Diphtheria
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Tuberculosis
 Biological Classification 19

Cyanobacteria KINGDOM PROTISTA (Kingdom of unicellular

These were earlier called the blue green algae. It is a very eukaryotes)
successful group on primitive earth. They carried out the process
of photosynthesis and released oxygen on the earth’s atmosphere, yy It forms a link between plants, animals and fungi.
which in turn gradually increased the level of oxygen in the yy This kingdom includes eukaryotic unicellular mostly aquatic
atmosphere. cells. Protozoan, diatoms and algae are included in it.
Structure of protists
How Bacteria is Different from Cyanobacteria 1. They have a typical Eukaryotic cell organization.
2. They have membrane bound organelles such as nucleus with
Bacteria Cyanobacteria chromosomes enclosed in nuclear membrane, mitochondria,
They are smaller in size. They are comparatively larger cells. chloroplast (in photosynthetic protists only), Golgi bodies
and endoplasmic reticulum.
They may have flagella. They do not have flagella. 3. They have mitochondria as respiratory organelles.
Some bacteria (green) carry out They all carry out photosynthesis in Locomotion in protists
photosynthesis in a different way the usual manner as in green plants 4. They often bear cilia or flagella for locomotion, having
and do not release oxygen. and release oxygen. 9+2 microtubules unlike those of bacteria which have 9+1
arrangement of microtubules.
Kingdom Monera includes two groups: Archaebacteria and 5. Types of locomotion found in protista:
Eubacteria (i) Pseudopodial locomotion: It is performed with the
(i) Archaebacteria: It includes bacteria that live in unusual help of protoplasmic outgrowths called pseudopodia.
environments particularly at low levels of oxygen. E.g. sarcodines and slime moulds.
Types of Archaebacteria are: (ii) Flagellar locomotion: In this flagella show whip
(a) Halophiles: They are salt-loving bacteria. like movement. E.g. dinoflagellates, euglenoids and
(b) Thermoacidophiles: They are the bacteria that live zooflagellates.
in hot springs. (iii) Ciliary locomotion: In this, cilia show oar-like
movement. E.g. Paramecium.
(c) Methanogens: They are the bacteria that are found
(iv) Wriggling locomotion: It is a slow worm like
in marshy areas (sewage) and intestinal tracts of
movement with the help of a wave of contraction and
ruminants. Methanogens are responsible for production expansion in the body. E.g. sporozoans, non flagellates,
of methane gas from the dung of ruminants. euglenoids.
(ii) Eubacteria: They are known as true bacteria. It includes: (v) Locomotion by mucilage propulsion: In this,
(a) Photosynthetic autotrophs like Cyanobacteria. movement occurs through secretion of mucilage. E.g.
Cyanobacteria often forms bloom in polluted areas. diatoms.
Some of these like Anabaena and Nostoc have Nutrition in Protists
specialised cells called heterocysts for nitrogen 6. Autotrophic or holophytic: Most of them are photosynthetic
fixation. autotrophs. They form the chief producers of food in oceans
(b) Chemosynthetic autotrophs bacteria oxidise various and in fresh water. E.g. dinoflagellates, diatoms, euglenoids.
inorganic substances like nitrates/nitrites, ammonia 7. Holozoic: Zooplanktons are mostly predatory. They show
and use released energy for their ATP production. They holozoic mode of nutrition as in Amoeba. In this mode,
individual captures and ingests the food like animals. E.g.
play an important role in recycling of nutrients.
many protozoans like Amoeba and Paramecium.
(c) Heterotrophic bacteria: They help in making curd,
8. Saprophytic: In this mode, organisms absorb food from
production of antibiotics, Nitrogen fixation etc. Some organic matter. E.g. Slime moulds.
are pathogens and cause diseases like cholera, typhoid, 9. Parasitic: Some protists are parasitic. They obtain food
tetanus etc. from the body of other organisms. E.g. Trypanosoma,
Plasmodium, Entamoeba etc.
Mycoplasma 10. Symbiotic: Some protists are symbionts. E.g. zooflagellates
yy It completely lacks cell wall. like Trichonympha live as symbionts in the intestine of
yy It is the smallest known living cells and is about 0.1 µm. termites.
yy It can survive without oxygen. 11. Mixotrophic (Halophytic + Holozoic or saprobes):
Euglena, a protozoan has two modes of nutrition. In the
yy Some are pathogenic in animals and plants.
presence of sunlight it is autotrophic and in the absence of
yy An older name for Mycoplasma was Pleuro Pneumonia-
sunlight it is heterotrophic. This mode of nutrition is known
Like Organisms (PPLO).
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20 BIOLOGY

as Mixotrophic and hence they form a border line between

plants and animals and can be classified in both. Note:
Reproduction in Protists • Gonyaulax is often known as red dinoflagellates. They undergo
12. They reproduce both asexually and sexually. such rapid multiplication that they make the sea appear red.
(a) Asexually reproduction: This is often referred as red tide. Red tide refers to the red
colour imparted to the sea water by the rapid multiplication
(i) Binary fission: It is the division of parent body
of dinoflagellates like Gonyaulax. The toxins released by such
into two equal daughter individuals by mitosis. large number of Gonyaulax may sometimes kill other marine
E.g. Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena. animals such as fishes.
(ii) Multiple fission: It is the division of parent body • Noctiluca is a colourless dinoflagellate. This alga is famous for
into several daughter individuals. E.g. Amoeba, its bioluminescence.
Plasmodium.
(iii) Plasmotomy: It is the division of multinucleate (iii) Euglenoids
protist into two or more multinucleate offspring by y Most of them are freshwater organisms found in stagnant
the division of cytoplasm without nuclear division. water.
E.g. Opalina. y Instead of cell wall. They have protein rich layer ‘pellicle’
(iv) Spore formation: Some protists reproduce which makes body flexible.
asexually by forming spores. E.g. Slime moulds. y They are photosynthetic in presence of sunlight but become
(v) Budding: E.g. Arcella (a sarcodine). heterotrophs if they do not get sunlight.
(b) Sexual reproduction: y They have two flagella- one short and one long.
Syngamy: It involves fusion of two gametes to produce y Example: Euglena, Paranema, Phacus.
a diplod zygote. Syngmay is of three types:
(iv) Slime Moulds
♦ Isogamy: In this, the two fusing gametes are
y They are saprophytic protists.
similar. E.g. Monocystis.
y Slime moulds possess the characters of both animals and
♦ Anisogamy: In this, the two fusing gametes are
fungi. Therefore they are commonly called fungus-animals.
dissimilar. E.g. Ceratium.
y They are found in decaying twigs and leaves, feeding on
♦ Oogamy: In this, large non-motile gametes
organic matter.
are fertilized by smaller motile gametes.
y Under suitable condition, they form an aggregation called
E.g. Plasmodium.
plasmodium, which may grow and spread several feet.
Classification of Protista y Under unfavourable conditions, plasmodium forms fruiting
bodies bearing spores on their tips. Spores have true walls
(i) Chrysophytes (Has diatoms and golden algae-desmids) which are extremely resistant and survive for many years.
y Cell walls are embedded with silica and form two thin y Example: Plasmodium.
overlapping shells, which fit together like a soap box. Thus (v) Protozoans (Unicellular animal-like protist.)
their walls are indestructible.
y Habit and Habitat: They occupy a vast array of habitats
y The siliceous frustules of diatoms do not decay easily. They
and niches and have organelles similar to those found in
pile up at the bottom of water reservoirs and form big heaps
other eukaryotic cells as well as specialized organelles.
called ‘Diatomaceous Earth’.
Protozoans are found in moist environments. If you were
y Being gritty, this soil is used in polishing, filtration of oils to pick up wet decaying leaves from the edge of a pond
and syrups. and place them under a microscope, you would discover
y Diatoms are chief producers in the oceans. They are very the small world inhabited by protozoans. They can be
good pollution indicators. Examples: Triceratium, Navicula, both free-living (can live outside of a host) or parasitic
Amphipleura etc. (colonize host cell tissues). Many are able to exist in
(ii) Dinoflagellates extreme environments, from Polar Regions to hot springs
y They are mostly marine, and photosynthetic. and desert soils.
y They are variously coloured depending on the main y Body form: They are small, microscopic organisms with
pigments present in their cell. varied forms. The body is unicellular, however they are
y Their cell wall has cellulose. preferably be referred to as a cellular because the single cell
y Most of them have two flagella-one longitudinal and other performs all the life activities and is functionally equivalent
transversely in a furrow between wall plates. to the whole metazoan animal.
y Example: Gonyaulax, Ceratium, Noctiluca.
Biological Classification 21

y Animals are microscopic so known as animalcules. (a) Mastigophora

y Symmetry: All symmetries are represented in the group. y Members of the phylum Mastigophora move about by using
y Germ layer: No germ layer present. one or more whip like flagella.
y Level of organization: They have no organs or tissues, but y The genus Euglena contains flagellated species.
specialized organelles found. y Members are freshwater protists with typical eukaryotic
y Nutrition: Nutrition is holozoic or holophytic or properties, including two flagella, reproduction by mitosis,
osmotrophic. Euglena shows mixotrophic nutrition. and flexible nutritional requirements.
y Digestion: Digestion is intracellular. Protozoa may absorb
y Euglena species also possess chlorophyll within chloroplasts.
food via their cell membranes, some, e.g., Amoebas,
This pigment allows the organisms to synthesize organic
surround food and engulf it, and yet others have openings
compounds in the presence of sunlight. When no sunlight is
or “mouth pores” into which they sweep food, and that
available, the organism feeds on dead organic matter in the
engulfing of food is said to be phagocytosis. All protozoa
digest their food in stomach-like compartments called surrounding environment. Thus, the organism is autotrophic
vacuoles. and heterotrophic. Some biologists consider Euglena to be
y Respiration and excretion: Respiration and excretion the basic stock of evolution for both animals and plants.
occurs by plasmalemma. y Certain species of Mastigophora are zooflagellates, while
y Osmoregulation: Contractile vacuole is present for os- some are phytoflagellates.
moregulation (It is absent in parasitic protozoa and marine y The zooflagellates live within the bodies of animals and are
protozoa). typified by the wood-digesting flagellates in the intestines
y Motility: They move around with whip-like tails called of termites. Among the pathogenic zooflagellates are those
flagella, hair-like structures called cilia, or foot-like that cause sleeping sickness, trichomoniasis, and giardiasis.
structures called pseudopodia. Others do not move at all. y The phytoflagellates have photosynthetic abilities.
y Some species of Mastigophora organize themselves into
colonies. Members of the genus Volvox are typical colonial
forms. The cell colonies are not differentiated into tissues
or organs, but the colonies show how a preliminary step in
evolutionary development might have occurred.
y Examples:
² Euglena gracilis: It is the simplest protozoan and most
primitive animal. It forms the connecting link between
plants and animals.
² Noctiluca: It is bioluminescent in nature and has
luciferin.
Fig. Protozoans ² Ceratium: It is bioluminescent in nature. Binary fission
is oblique.
y Reproduction: A sexual reproduction by binary or multiple ² Mastigamoeba: It is the connecting link between
fissions or plasmotomy or budding. Sexual reproduction sarcodina and mastigophora.
occurs by syngamy or conjugation.
² Leshmania donovani: It causes kala-azar or
y Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Microsporidium have
leishmaniasis or dum–dum fever. Vector of this disease
become major concerns in the drinking water Industry.
is sand fly (Phlebotomus)
y The protozoa are subdivided into four phyla depending on
² Trypansoma gambiense: It is the parasite of sleeping
their method of locomotion: Mastigophora (flagellates),
sickness.
Sarcodina (Amoebas), Ciliophora (Ciliates), and
Sporozoa. Three of the groups—amoebas, flagellates, and Euglena
ciliates—are grouped according to the way they move. The
y It is a freshwater flagellate. It is abundantly found in stagnant
fourth group, sporozoans, are grouped together because
waters such as pools, ponds, and ditches etc. containing
they are parasites.
decaying organic matter.
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22 BIOLOGY

yy Two interesting Amoebas are the foraminiferans and the

radiolarians. Both are marine Amoebas that secrete shells.
Their shells have been identified as markers for oil deposits
because both were present in the ocean communities that
became the organic deposits that, under pressure, became
oil fields.

Amoeba
yy Amoeba is commonly found in the mud in fresh water ponds
and ditches containing decaying leaves.
yy They have pseudopodia for locomotion.
yy It captures food by pseudopodia to form a food vacuole.
yy Amoeba has a contractile vacuole for osmoregulation.
yy Amoeba reproduces asexually by binary fission. Sexual
reproduction is absent.

Fig.  Structure of a Euglena

Structure of Euglena
yy Pellicle: Euglena has elastic body which is covered by a
covering called pellicle. Pellicle is made up of protein.
yy Cytostome and Reservoir: Cytostome is the cell mouth
leading into a tubular cytopharynx which opens into a vesicle
called reservoir.
yy Stigma: Stigma is a prominent red pigment spot. It is
sensitive to light.
yy Contractile vacuole: Euglena has contractile vacuole for Fig.  Amoeba
osmoregulation.
Entamoeba
yy Flagellum: It has flagellum for propulsion in water.
yy Chloroplast: It has chloroplast containing green coloured yy Entamoeba histolytica cause amoebic dysentery in humans.
chlorophyll for photosynthesis. It is amoeboid in form. The symptoms of amoebic dysentery
yy Euglena reproduces asexually by binary fission. are abdominal pain, nausea, blood and mucus with stool.
(b) Sarcodina (Rhizopoda) (c) Ciliophora (Ciliata)
yy Members of the phylum Sarcodina are the Amoebas and yy Members of the phylum Ciliophora move by means of cilia.
their relatives. yy The organisms are all heterotrophic and have specialized
yy Amoebas consist of a single cell without a definite shape. organelles in their cytoplasm.
They feed on small organisms and particles of organic yy Ciliates show nuclear dimorphism or two types of nuclei-
matter, and they engulf the particles by phagocytosis. ²² A large macronucleus: Macronucleus controls meta-
Extensions of the cytoplasm called pseudopodia (the bolic activities and growth. It is also called vegetative
singular is pseudopodium) assist phagocytosis and motion nucleus.
in the organisms. ²² A number of smaller micronuclei: The micronuclei
yy Pseudopodia are of four types: carry the genetic information of the cell. Hence, it is
²² Lobopodia (broad and blunt)- E.g. Amoeba termed as reproductive nucleus.
²² Filopodia (slender without any support and yy Examples: Paramecium, Opalina (multinucleated,
independent)- E.g. Euglypha endoparasite in rectum of frog), Nyctotherus (endoparasite
²² A x o p o d i a ( S l e n d e r w i t h a x i a l s u p p o r t ) - in rectum of frog), Balantidium, Vorticella (Commonly
E.g. Actinophyrs known as bell animalcule).
²² R e t i c u l o p o d i a ( S l e n d e r a n d r e t i c u l a t e ) -
Paramecium (The slipper animalcule)
E.g. Globigerina
yy Amoebas are found in most lakes, ponds, and other bodies yy The ciliate Paramecium typifies the phylum Ciliophora.
of fresh water. They move by a creeping form of locomotion yy This organism has a slipper-shaped body with a covering
called amoeboid motion. One amoeba called Entamoeba called a pellicle.
histolytica causes a type of dysentery in humans.
 Biological Classification 23

y Defensive organelles called trichocysts are present in the ² Babesia: It causes Texas fever or red water fever in
pellicle. cattles.
y Mouth is known as cytostome and anus is known as ² Monocystis: It is the parasite in seminal vesicle of
cytopyge. earthworm.
y The organism reproduces by mitosis and by an elaborate ² Gregerina: It is present in intestine of cockroach.
form of sexual behaviour called conjugation, which occurs ² Nosema: It is the parasite of silk moth.
when two Paramecium join to one another in the oral region ² Eimeria: It is found in epithelium of liver of rabbit.
and exchange nuclear material.
y The cilia of Paramecium provide a precise form of motion Plasmodium
not provided by flagella or pseudopodia. The cilia can propel y One of the best-known members of the group is the
the Paramecium either forward or backward and move it Plasmodium species, which are the agents of malaria.
in a spiral manner. y The organisms spend portions of their life cycle within
mosquitoes. After being injected into the human bloodstream
by the mosquito, the parasites invade the red blood cells,
undergo numerous changes, and emerge from the red blood
cells, destroying them. The infected human experiences a
malaria attack soon after.
y Plasmodium has two hosts:
² Female Anopheles mosquito: In this, sexual phase of
the malarial parasite occurs. Hence, it is considered
as primary host of malarial parasite.
² Human beings: In man, asexual phase of the malarial
parasite occurs. Hence, it is considered as secondary
host.
y Two phases found in life cycle of Plasmodium:
² Sexual cycle produces sporozoites in body of
mosquito. Meiosis occurs just after zygote formation
Fig.: Paramecium (zygotic meiosis).
Difference between Cilia and Flagella ² Sporozoites infect a human and reproduce asexually,
first in liver cells and then in red blood cells. Malaria
Flagella Cilia is spread by Anopheles mosquito, which ingests
They are larger and longer. They are smaller and shorter. gametocytes along with human blood, then, when
They are rarely more than a They are always found in large biting another victim, leaves sporozoites in new
dozen found on a cell. numbers on a cell. wound.
They may carry various additional They do not carry additional structures
structures. (but may be fused together into
structures).
KINGDOM FUNGI (Kingdom of multicellular
When more than one is present, They almost always act with a high decomposers)
they rarely act in a coordinated degree of coordination.
fashion. This kingdom includes moulds, mushrooms, toad stools, puffballs
and bracket fungi.
The most common activity is a The most common activity is an
spinning/whipping motion. oarlike stroke somewhat like a
swimming human’s arm. Characteristic Features
y They have eukaryotic cell organization.
(d) Sporozoa
y Their body is made up of numerous filamentous structures
y Members of the phylum Sporozoa are exclusively parasites.
called hyphae. A hypha may be divided into cells by
They are so named because some members produce spore
partitions called septa. Hypha has many nuclei. Yeast,
like bodies.
however, is single celled.
y Often they have an amoeboid body form, but they are not
y A group of hyphae forming a network is called mycelium,
related to the Sarcodina.
mycetos meaning fungus.
y Sporozoans are generally parasitic organisms with complex
y Cell wall is made of chitin and polysaccharides
life cycles involving several stages.
y Their mode of nutrition is heterotrophic since they lack
y Examples:
the green pigmentchlorophyll. Some fungi like Puccinia
² Plasmodium: It is the smallest animalcule and
are parasites while others like Rhizopus are saprotrophic
commonly known as malaria parasite.
 EBD_7051
24 BIOLOGY

and feed on dead organic matter. They can also live as ² Peronospora parasitica causes downy mildew in
symbionts – in association with algae as lichens and with number of plants like pea, mustard, onion etc.
roots of higher plants as mycorrhiza. (b) Zygomyctes (The conjugation fungi)
y Reproduction in fungi is both asexual and sexual y The mycelium is coenocytic (multinucleate and aseptate).
² Asexual reproduction in fungi: y Hyphal wall contains chitin or fungus cellulose.
(i) Vegetative means by fragmentation, fission and y Motile cells are absent.
budding. y Mitospores are non-motile and called sporangiospores as
(ii) Asexually by spores called conidia, sporangiospores, the sproes are formed inside sporangia born at the tips of
or zoospores. sproangiophores.
(iii) Sexually by oospores, ascospores, and
y Sexual reproduction occurs through conjugation.
basidiospores.
y The product of sexual reproduction is diploid spore called
² Sexual reproduction in fungi: It involves three
steps: zygospores.
(i) Plasmogamy: It involves fusion between two y E.g.
motile or non-motile gametes. Sometimes two ² Rhizopus stolonifer: It is popularly known as black
haploid hyphae come together and fuse. bread mould.
(ii) Karyogamy:It involves fusion of two nuclei. In ² Mucorcaninus coprophilus. It is also known as dung
some fungi two haploid cells immediately fuse and mould.
form diploid cells while in some (e.g. ascomycetes ² Rhizopus and Mucor are the common saprotrophic
and basidiomycetes) a dikaryotic (n+n)occurs fungi that attack a variety of food stuffs. Both of them
which later become diploid. Such phase is called are commonly used in alcoholic fermentation.
dikaryophase. (ii) Ascomycetes (The sac fungi)
(iii) Meiosis in zygote: Fungi from fruiting bodies in y It is also known as ‘sac fungi’.
which reduction division occurforming haploid y They are mostly multicellular (e.g. Penicillium) or rarely
spores. unicellular (e.g. Saccharomyces- yeast)
y E.g., Puccinia (rust causing), Penicillium. y Mycelium is branched and septate. Yeast is an exception
y The branch of biology that deals with the study of fungi is in that they are basically unicellular. They may however,
known as Mycology. form short temporary filamentous structure called
pseudomycelium.
Classes of Fungi y Asexual spores are called conidia produced exogenously
(i) Phycomycetes (Lower or Algal fungi) on the conidiophores.
y They are found in aquatic habitats and grow on decaying y Sexual spores are called ascospores produced endogenously
wood in moist and damp places. in sac like ascus. Asci are produced inside fruiting body
y Mycelium is aseptate and coenocytic. called Ascocarp.
y Asexual reproduction occurs by zoospores (motile) or y E.g., Aspergillus, Neurospora, Claviceps.
a planospores (non-motile). y Neurospora crassa is known as the Drosophila of plant
y Spores are produced endogenously. kingdom. It is used extensively in biochemical and genetic
y e.g., Rhizopus (bread mould), Albugo. work.
Phycomycetes is divisible into two groups: Oomycetes and y Aspergillus flavus, growing on stored grains, groundnut and
Zygomycetes. bread produces toxin called aflatoxin, which is carcinogenic
(a) Oomycetes (The oogamous fungi) to humans.
y Mycelium is coenocytic (multinucleate and aseptate). y Claviceps purpurea produces ergot of rye and other cereals
y A sexual reproduction involves formation of spore contain in which ears come to have sclerotia of fungus. Eating of
sac or sporangia. infected cereals produces ergotism.
y Morels and Truffles are edible ascomycetes.
y Zoospores are biflagellate.
(iii) Basidiomycetes (The club fungi)
y Sexual reproduction is by gametangial contain where male
y The commonly known forms of basidiomycetes are
sex organs or antheridium passes its products into female
mushroom, bracket fungi.
sex organ or oogonium.
y Mycelium is branched and septate.
y The product of sexual reproduction is oospore.
y Asexual spores generally are not found.
y E.g. y Vegetative reproduction is by fragmentation.
² Phytophthora infestans: It causes late blight of potato
y Sexual reproduction is by plasmogamy. It involves fusion
and tomato.
of vegetative or somatic cells of different strains to form
² Albuga candida: It causes white rust.
 Biological Classification 25

basidium. Basidia are arranged in fruiting bodies called y The deuteromycetes reproduce only by asexual spores
basidiocarp. known as conidia.
y Karyogamy and meiosis take place in the basidium y They are saprophytic, parasitic or decomposers.
producing four basidiospores. The basidiospores are y E.g.,
exogenously produced on the basidium. ² Colletotrichum falcatum produces red rot of sugarcane.
y E.g., Agaricus (mushroom), Ustilago (smut), Puccinia ² Helminthosporiumoryzae produces sesame or brown
(rust fungus). leaf spot of rice.
(iv) Deuteromycetes ² Alternaria causes early blight of potato and tomato.
y It is commonly called as ‘Fungi Imperfecti’ as only asexual ² Trichoderma is a soil fungus used in biological control
or vegetative form of this fungus is known. of other fungi.
y Mycelium is septate and branched.
KINGDOM MYCOTA

Sexual Reproduciton not Identified Sexual Reproduciton Identified

Fungi imperfecti or DUETEROMYCETES Primitive Fungi OOMYCOTA Advance Fungi EUMYCOTA

e.g. Cercospora, Fusarium (Mycelium Aseptate) (Mycelium Septate)

PHYCOMYCETES PHYCOMYCETES ASCOMYCETES BASIDIOMYCETES

Algal Fungi) (Conjugation Fungi) (Sac Fungi) (Club Fungi)

E.g.: Phytophthora, Albugo E.g.: Mucor, Rhizopus E.g.: Yeast, Candida E.g.: Puccinia, Agaricus

Importance of Fungi

Harmful Fungi
1. Puccinia graminis (Wheat Rust): It causes brown patches
on leaf and stem of wheat. It decreases the yield of wheat
and makes it unfit for human consumption.
2. Rhizopus or (Bread Mould) grows on bread. If the bread
is exposed to warm and humid conditions a cottony mass
develops in few days. This white cotton mass later develops
a greyish black colour.
y The whitish network on bread is called mycelium.
y The mycelium contains thread like structures called hyphae.
y The root-like structures growing out of the hyphae penetrate
the bread, and secrete digestive enzymes (extracellular
digestion) and absorb the digested food.
y Greyish black colour of the mould develops due to formation
of sporangium which releases dark coloured spores. The
spores scatter bywind and germinate after falling out a
suitable place. This is asexual reproduction.
Fig.: Structure of fungi
 EBD_7051
26 BIOLOGY

y Sexual reproduction takes place by conjugation between

KINGDOM ANIMALIA (Kingdom of
two neighbouring hyphae to produce a zygospore which
after a period of rest produces a sporangium. When mature, multicellular consumers/metazoa)
the sporangium bursts to release spores which germinate This kingdom includes all multi-cellular eukaryotic organisms.
on meeting favourable conditions and produce a new They are also referred to as metazoans.
mycelium. Characteristic features
3. In human, skin diseases like ringworm and athlete’s foot y They are motile or mobile as they have to search for their
are caused by fungi. Some ear infections are also caused food. However sponges and corals are exception.
by fungi. y All animals show heterotrophic mode of nutrition. They
Beneficial Fungi form the consumers of an ecosystem.
y They have contractibility of the muscle cells.
y Certain Mushrooms (Agaricus campestris) are edible. y They can transmit impulses due to the presence of nerve
y Yeasts are used for fermentation during manufacture of cells.
bread, beer, soya sauce, cheese and wine. y Some groups of animals are parasites e.g. Tapeworms and
y Mycorrhizae are fungi associated with roots of plants. Roots roundworms.
benefit in getting minerals from the environment while fungi y They lack cell wall.
gets food from the plant in return through such association. y They stores food reserves as fat or glycogen.
y Reproduction is mostly sexual.
y Neurospora has been a favourite experimental material in
Genetics.
y Various antibiotics are derived from fungi. Penicillin is VIRUSES
obtained from Penicillium notatum. Its antibiotic effect
was discovered by chance by Alexander Flemming in 1927. They did not find a place in classification. They show both living
and non-living characters. Hence viruses are regarded as a separate
entity. It is not taken into account in Whittaker’s five kingdom
KINGDOM PLANTAE (Kingdom of classification.
multicellular producers/metaphyta)
Living characteristics of virus
y It includes multi-cellular plants of land and water. y It has the ability to multiply inside a host plant or animal cell.
y The major groups of Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, y It has the ability to cause diseases.
Gymnosperms and Angiosperms belong to this kingdom. y It possesses nucleic acid, protein, enzyme etc.
Characteristic features y It has the ability to undergo mutation.
y They are chlorophyll containing multicellular eukaryotes.
y The cells have a rigid cell wall made up of cellulose. Non-living characteristics of virus
y They show various modes of nutrition. Most of them are y Virus is unable to multiply extra cellular.
autotrophs since they have chlorophyll. Some plants are y It does not have any metabolic activity.
heterotrophs. For e.g. Cuscuta is a parasite. Nepenthes and y It lacks protoplasm.
Drosera are insectivorous plants. y It can be crystallized.
y Life cycle shows alternation of generation having Viruses are defined as ultramicroscopic, disease causing intra
cellular obligate parasites. They have no cellular organization and
gametophytic (n) and sporophytic (2n) phase.
have no machinery for any metabolic activity. They are obligate
How Fungi and Plants Differ from each other intracellular parasites and they multiply within their host cells. Once
1. Fungi cannot make their own food like plants can, since outside the host cell they are completely inactive.
they do not have chloroplasts and cannot carry out
photosynthesis. Fungi are more like animals because they History of discovery of virus
are heterotrophs. They have to obtain their food from outside y Pasteur coined the term ‘Virus’ i.e., poisonous fluid.
sources. y It attracted the attention of investigators only in the 19th
2. The cell walls in many species of fungi contain chitin. Chitin century when a virus called Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)
is tough carbohydrate found in the shells of animals such caused severe damage to commercially important tobacco
as beetles and lobsters. The cell wall of a plant is made of crop.
cellulose, not chitin. y D.J. Ivanowsky found out that certain microbes caused
3. Unlike many plants, most fungi do not have structures that Tobacco Mosaic Disease in tobacco plant.
transfer water and nutrients. y Dutch microbiologist Beijerinek (1898) confirmed the
findings of Iwanowsky and called the fluid “contagium
vivum fluidum” which means contagious living fluid. This
 Biological Classification 27

was later on called virion (poison) and the disease causing (ii) Nucleic acid: The nucleic acid forms the central core.
agent as virus. Unlike any living cell a virus contains either DNA or
yy W. M. Stanley in 1935 showed viruses could be crystallised RNA as genetic material which may be single or double
to form crystals of protein which are inert outside their stranded. Usually plant viruses have single stranded RNA;
specific host. bacteriophages have double stranded DNA and animal
yy Viruses are ultramicroscopic. They can be seen only under viruses have single or double stranded RNA or double
electron microscope. They are measured in millimicrons stranded DNA. The infective nature of the virus is attributed
(1 millimicron = 1/1000 micron). (1 micron = 1/1000 to the nucleic acid while host specificity is attributed to the
millimeter). Generally they vary from 2.0 mm to 300 mm protein coat.
in size.
According to the type of the host they infect, viruses are classified
yy The branch of science that deals with study of virus is
mainly into the following types.
known as virology.
(i) Plant Viruses
Structure of Virus They infect plants and cause diseases. Some common plant viral
diseases are:
A virus is composed of two major parts: Capsid (the protein coat) yy Mosaic diseases of tobacco (TMV), cucumber (CMV),
and Nucleic acid. cauliflower.
(i) Capsid: The capsid is the outer protein coat. It is protective yy Bunchy top of banana
in function. It is often composed of many identical subunits yy Leaf-roll of potato
called capsomeres arranged in helical or polygeometric yy Spotted wilt of tomato
forms. Some of the viruses have an outer covering called yy Generally, plant viruses have RNA with the exception of
envelope. E.g. HIV. They are called enveloped viruses. some viruses such as cauliflower mosaic virus which has
Others are called naked viruses or non- enveloped viruses. DNA.
The capsid is in close contact with the nucleic acid and (ii) Animal Viruses
hence known as nucleocapsid. yy They infect animals and cause diseases. The nucleic acid is
either DNA or RNA. some of the diseases caused by viruses
in human beings are: common cold, measles, small pox (now
extinct), chicken pox, Jaundice, herpes, hepatitis A, B, C,
D, E, G, influenza, polio, mumps, rabies, AIDS and SARS.
yy Viruses also cause diseases in cattle. E.g. Foot and mouth
disease (FMD) in cattle, encephalomyelitis of horse, rabies
etc.
yy Viruses that cause diseases in fungi are called mycophages
and viruses that attack blue green algae/cyanobacteria and
cause diseases are called cyanophages.
Fig.  Structure of tobacco mosaic virus
(iii) Bacteriophages
Virus that infects bacteria is called bacteriophage or simply
phage. It is tadpole like and the nucleic acid is DNA e.g. T2,
T4, T6 bacteriophages.
DNA containing viruses are called deoxy viruses while RNA
containing viruses are called ribo viruses. Each of them has two
subtypes, double stranded and single stranded.
Genetic material Examples
dsDNA T2, T4 bacteriophges, coliphage lambda,
adenovirus, herpes virus, cauliflower mosaic,
pox virus.
ssDNA Coliphge MS 2, coliphage fd, coliphage f 174
dsRNA Reovirus, tumor virus.
ssRNA Polio virus, food and mouth disease virus,
influenza virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, HIV, Rous
sarcoma virus etc.
Fig.  Bacteriophage
 EBD_7051
28 BIOLOGY

Note: INTERFERONS (IFNS)

Retrovirus is a virus whose genes are encoded in RNA instead yy They are the host coded proteins of cytokine family that
of DNA. They synthesize complementary DNA through reverse inhibit viral replication.
transcriptase. Others have RNA → RNA replication. yy They are produced by intact animal or cultured cells in
The most well-known retrovirus that infects humans is HIV. response to viral infection or other inducers.
yy They are believed to be the part of body’s first line of defense
against viral infection.
VIRION
An intact, infective virus particle which is non-replicating outside
LICHENS
a host cell is called virion. yy It is the symbiotic association of algae and fungi.
yy Algal part is called phycobiont and fungal part is called
mycobiont.
VIROIDS yy Phycobiont is autotrophic. Its main function is photosynthesis.
It prepares food for fungi (Mycobiont).
yy Viroids were discovered by T.O. Diener. yy Mycobiont is heterotrophic. It provides shelter and absorbs
yy It is the smallest self-replicating particles. mineral and water for alga.
yy A viroid is a circular molecule of ss RNA without a capsid. yy It acts as pollution indicator i.e. it does not grow in polluted
yy It lacks protein coat. area. Lichen cannot tolerate air pollution expecially due to
yy It has a free RNA of low molecular weight. sulphur dioxide.
yy Viroids are known to cause diseases in plants only. E.g. yy Lichens are of three types:
Potato spindle tuber disease, Citrus exocortis. (i) Crustose: It is the curst like and closely appressed to
the substratusm and attached to it at several places.
E.g. Graphis, lecanora, Rhizocarponetc
PRIONS (ii) Foliose: The body of foliose lichen is flat, broad, and lobed
and leaf like which is attached to the substratum at one or
yy Stanley Prusiner did most of the work on prions and was a few places. E.g. Parmelia, Dictyonema, etc.
awarded Nobel Prize in 1998. (iii) Fructicose: This type of lichen is branched like a bush and
yy They are very unique among infectious agents because they attached to the substratum by means of disc. E.g. Cladonia,
Evernia, Usnea.
contain no genetic material i.e. DNA/RNA.
yy They are proteinaceous infectious particles.
yy They are the causative agents for about a dozen fatal MYCORRHIZAE
degenerative disorders of the central nervous systems of
yy It is the mutual beneficial or symbiotic association of a
humans and other animals. fungus with the root of a higher plant.
yy Eg. Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD), Bovine Spongiform yy Here, the fungus is dependent upon the higher plant for
Encephalopathy (BSE)-Commonly known as mad cow shelter and food while fungus absorbs mineral and water for
disease, etc. the plant. The fungus also seems to be essential for proper
growth of the plant having mycorrhiza.
 Kingdom Plantae Bacteria
It includes all eukaryotic It was discovered by
chlorophyll containing Kingdom Monera Leeuwonhoek in pond
organism called plants These are single celled water and are grouped
prokaryotes. Its mode of under 4-categories occur,
Biological Classification

nutrition is autotrophic Bacillus, Vibrium,

Virus, Virion, Lichen Spirillium
Phycomycetes and heterotrophic
It includes TMV, HIV
These are found in etc. Archaebacteria
aquatic animals on
decaying wood in moist These differ from bacteria
and damp places Kingdom Animalia in having different cell
ex-Rhizopus, etc. It includes eukaryotic wall. These may be
organism, heterotrophic Biological halophiles, thermoacido-
and multicellular, etc. Classification philes, methanogens
Ascomycetes
Given by Whitakker
These are unicellular as Eubacteria
well as multicellular Kingdom fungi
Also called true bacteria.
ex-Aspergillus These are group of It contains rigid cell wall
eukaryotic micro- Kingdom Protista motile, flagellum, etc.
organism that lack ex-Cyanobacteria
Basidiomycetes Single celled eukaryotes
chlorophyll and is
Commonly known as heterotrophic and are placed under
club fungi protista these are primarily Mycoplasma
ex-Mushroom, etc. aquatic It completely lack cell
wall. It is a smallest
living cell can survive
Deuteromycetes
without oxygen
Commonly called fungi
Imperfecti.
ex-Alternaria, etc.

Chrysophytes Dinoflagellates Euglenoids Slime moulds Protozoans

It includes diatoms, These are mostly marine These are fresh water These are saprophytic, It includes all unicellular,
golden algae, etc. and photosynthetic organism. ex-Euglene may be cellular and acellular, flagillated
having two flagella. acellular cilited, protozoans and
ex-Gonyaulax sporozoans also.
29
 EBD_7051
30 BIOLOGY

1. In Whittaker's system of classification, prokaryotes are placed 12. An organism having cytoplasm i.e. DNA and RNA but no
in the kingdom cell wall is
(a) Protista (b) Monera (a) Cyanobacterium (b) Mycoplasma
(c) Plantae (d) Animalia (c) Bacterium (d) Virus
2. In the five kingdom system of classification, which single 13. Kingdom monera comprises the –
kingdom out of the following can include blue-green algae, (a) Plants of economic importance
nitrogen fixing bacteria and methanogenic archaebacteria ? (b) All the plants studied in botany
(a) Monera (b) Fungi (c) Prokaryotic organisms
(c) Plantae (d) Protista (d) Plants of Thallophyta group
3. Which of the following kingdom does not have nuclear 14. The cell wall of green plants is made up of
membrane? (a) Pectin (b) Suberin
(a) Protista (b) Fungi (c) Cellulose (d) Chitin
(c) Monera (d) Plantae 15. Which of the following is not a blue-green algae ?
4. What type of mode of nutrition is found in the kingdom (a) Nostoc (b) Anabaena
Animalia? (c) Lichen (d) Aulosiras
(a) Autotrophic and heterotrophic 16. During rainy seasons, the ground becomes slippery due to
(b) Chemosynthetic and photosynthetic dense growth of
(c) Saprophytic and parasitic (a) Lichens (b) Bacteria
(d) Holozoic and saprophytic (c) Green algae (d) Cyanobacteria
5. The separation of living beings into five kingdoms is based 17. Paramecium is a
on – (a) Protozoan (b) Bacterium
(a) Complexity of cell structure (c) Virus (d) Annelid
(b) Complexity of organism's body 18. Protists are
(c) Mode of obtaining nutrition (a) single-celled eukaryotes (b) multicellular eukaryotes
(d) All of the above (c) single-celled prokaryotes (d) single-celled akaryote
6. The chief component of bacterial cell wall is 19. Total parasites belong to protozoan group
(a) Cellulose and chitin (a) Sporozoa (b) Ciliata
(b) Cellulose and pectin (c) Sarcodina (d) Zooflagellata
(c) Amino acids and polysaccharides 20. The cilia in Paramecium are
(d) Cellulose and carbohydrates (a) All equal (b) All unequal
7. Bacteria whose cell has only a curve/comma is (c) Longer at posterior end (d) Longer at anterior end
(a) Vibrio (b) Cocci 21. Plasmodium, the parasite, belongs to class
(c) Spirilli (d) Bacilli (a) Sarocodina (b) Ciliata
8. The main difference between Gram positive and Gram (c) Sporozoa (d) Dinophyceae
negative bacteria lies in the composition of 22. Which of the following organisms were never included in
(a) Cilia (b) Cell wall protista ?
(c) Nucleolus (d) Cytoplasm (a) Bacteria (b) Red algae
9. Helically coiled shaped bacteria are called (c) Slime moulds (d) Mosses
(a) Spirilla (b) Coed 23. Which of the following does not contain chlorophyll ?
(c) Bacilli (d) Vibrio (a) Fungi (b) Algae
10. Cell wall is absent in (c) Bryophyta (d) Pteridophyta
(a) bacteria (b) fungi 24. Which of the following statements are true about bacteria?
(c) plants (d) animals (a) They are the sole members of the kingdom Monera.
11. Which one of the following organisms may respire in the (b) They live in extreme habitats such as hot springs, deserts,
absence of oxygen ? snow and deep oceans
(a) Azotobacter (b) Clostridium (c) They show the most extensive metabolic diversity
(c) Rhizobium (d) Lactobacillus (d) All of these
 Biological Classification 31

25. The cell wall of fungi is made up of 39. Members of phycomycetes are found in
(a) Chitin (b) Cellulose (a) aquatic habitats (b) on decaying wood
(c) Pectin (d) Suberin (c) moist and damp places (d) all of these
26. The disease of potato responsible for famous famine of Europe 40. 'Mycorrhizae' are useful for plants mainly due to their
was caused by or late blight of potato is caused by following attribute
(a) Colletotrichum falcatum (a) Fixing atmospheric nitrogen
(b) Phytophthora infestans (b) Enhanced absorption of nutrients from soil
(c) Potato mosaic virus (c) Killing insects and pathogens
(d) Alternaria solani (d) Providing resistance against abiotic stresses
27. Ergot is caused by 41. Red rot of sugarcane is caused by –
(a) Claviceps (b) Penicillium (a) Puccinia (b) Albugo
(c) Aspergillus (d) Rhizobium (c) Ustilago (d) Colletotrichum
28. When fungi feed on dead organic matter, they are known as 42. Fungi are always –
(a) Dimorphic (b) Parasites (a) Autotrophs (b) Heterotrophs
(c) Saprophytes (d) None of these (c) Saprophytes (d) Parasites
29. Which of the following divisions of fungi includes Club fungi ? 43. Which of the following option is true for methanogens?
(a) Zygomycota (b) Ascomycota (i) They are eukaryotes.
(c) Deuteromycota (d) Basidiomycota (ii) They live in marshy areas.
30. Which of the following fungi are edible ? (iii) They are also present in the guts of several ruminant
(a) Agaricus campestris (b) Morchella esculenta animals such as cows and buffaloes.
(c) Podaxon prodaxis (d) All of these (iv) They are responsible for the production of methane
31. Gametangial copulation (conjugation) is common in (biogas)
(a) Zygomycetes (b) Ascomycetes (a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) Phycomycetes (d) Deuteromycetes (c) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) (d) None of these
32. Dikaryon formation is characteristic of 44. Pseudomycelium is characteristic feature of –
(a) Ascomycetes and basidiomycetes (a) Mushroom (b) Mucor
(b) Phycomycetes and basidiomycetes (c) Bread mould (d) Yeast
(c) Ascomycetes and phycomycetes 45. Common form of food stored in a fungal cell is –
(d) Phycomycetes and zygomycetes (a) Glycogen (b) Starch
33. Plasmogamy is fusion of (c) Glucose (d) Sucrose
(a) Two haploid cells including their nuclei 46. Which of the following pigment present in cyanobacteria?
(b) Two haploid cells without nuclear fusion (a) Chlorophyll ‘a’ (b) Chlorophyll ‘b’
(c) Sperm and egg (c) Chlorphyll ‘c’ (d) Chlorophyll ‘d’
(d) Sperm and two polar nuclei 47. Rhizopus belongs to the class –
34. Clamp connection is found in (a) Ascomycetes (b) Phycomycetes
(a) Basidiomycetes (b) Ascomycetes (c) Basidiomycetes (d) Deuteromycetes
(c) Saccharomycetes (d) Haplomycetes 48. Which one of the following is smallest living cell and live
35. Difference between virus and viroid is without oxygen?
(a) absence of protein coat in viroid but present in virus (a) Mycoplasma (b) Mycorrhiza
(b) presence of low molecular weight RNA in virus but (c) Euglena (d) Trypanosoma
absent in viroid 49. The Tobacco mosaic virus was crystallized for first time by
(c) both (a) and (b) (a) W. M. Stanley (b) E . C. Stackman
(d) None of these (c) A. K. Smith (d) Ivanowski
36. Common bread mould is 50. The genetic material in viruses is
(a) Yeast (b) Rhizopus (a) Only RNA
(c) Bacteria (d) Virus (b) Only DNA
37. Branched, aseptate, coenocytic mycelium is present in (c) RNA and DNA both
(a) Aspergillus (b) Albugo (d) RNA or DNA i.e. one nucleic acid in a virus
(c) Penicillium (d) Erysiphae 51. Which of the following pair comes under the group
38. In manufacture of bread, it becomes porous due to release of chrysophytes?
CO2 by the action of (a) Diatoms and Euglena
(a) Virus (b) Yeast (b) Euglena and Trypanosoma
(c) Bacteria (d) Protozoans (c) Diatoms and desmids
(d) Gonyaulax and desmids
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52. Which one is absent in viruses ? 63. The thalloid body of a slime mould (Myxomycetes) is known
(a) Replication (b) Protein synthesis as
(c) Energy liberation (d) Mutation (a) plasmodium (b) fruiting body
53. Protists obtain food as (c) mycelium (d) protonema
(a) photosynthesisers, symbionts and holotrophs 64. Which pair of the following belongs to Basidiomycetes ?
(b) photosynthesisers (a) Puffballs and Claviceps
(c) chemosynthesisers (b) Peziza and stink borns
(d) holotrophs (c) Morchella and mushrooms
54. The part of the virus which gives to it the hereditary feature, (d) Birds nest fungi and puffballs.
is 65. Which one of the following is a slime mould?
(a) Capsid (b) Capsomere (a) Physarum (b) Thiobacillus
(c) Nucleic acid (d) Nucleotide (c) Anabaena (d) Rhizopus
55. A bacteriophage is 66. Thermococcus, Methanococcus and Methanobacterium
(a) A virus attacking a bacterium exemplify:
(b) A bacterium attacking a virus (a) Archaebacteria that contain protein homologous to
(c) A stage in the life-cycle of bacterium eukaryotic core histones
(d) A virus attacking another virus (b) Archaebacteria that lack any histones resembling those
56. A few organisms are known to grow and multiply at found in eukaryotes but whose DNA is negatively
temperatures of 100–105ºC. They belong to supercoiled
(a) marine archaebacteria (c) Bacteria whose DNA is relaxed or positively supercoiled
(b) thermophilic sulphur bacteria but which have a cytoskeleton as well as mitochondria
(c) hot-spring blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) (d) Bacteria that contain a cytoskeleton and ribosomes
(d) thermophilic, subaerial fungi 67. Mannitol is the stored food in:
57. The most abundant prokaryotes helpful to humans in making (a) Porphyra (b) Fucus
curd from milk and in production of antibiotics are the ones (c) Gracillaria (d) Chara
categorised as : 68. Single-celled eukaryotes are included in:
(a) Cyanobacteria (a) Protista (b) Fungi
(b) Archaebacteria (c) Archaea (d) Monera
(c) Chemosynthetic autotrophs 69. Ringworm in humans is caused by :
(d) Heterotrophic bacteria (a) Bacteria (b) Fungi
58. The cyanobacteria are also referred to as (c) Nematodes (d) Viruses
(a) protists (b) golden algae 70. Which one of the following organisms is not an example of
(c) slime moulds (d) blue green algae eukaryotic cells ?
59. Lichens are important in studies on atmospheric pollution (a) Paramecium caudatum (b) Escherichia coli
because they – (c) Euglena viridis (d) Amoeba proteus
(a) can also grow in greatly polluted atmosphere 71. In eubacteria, a cellular component that resembles eukaryotic
(b) can readily multiply in polluted atmosphere cells is :
(c) efficiently purify the atmosphere (a) plasma membrane (b) nucleus
(d) are very sensitive to pollutants (c) ribosomes (d) cell wall
60. The symbiotic association of fungi and algae is called – 72. Organisms called methanogens are most abundant in a :
(a) Lichen (b) Mycorrhiza (a) sulphur rock (b) cattle yard
(c) Rhizome (d) Endomycorrhiza (c) polluted stream (d) hot spring
61. Which one of the following is not true about lichens? 73. The highest number of species in the world is represented by
(a) Their body is composed of both algae and fungal cells. (a) Fungi (b) Mosses
(b) These grow very fast at the rate of about 2cm per year. (c) Algae (d) Lichens
(c) Some form food for reindeer in arctic regions. 74. In the five-kingdom classification, Chlamydomonas and Chlorella
(d) Some species can be used as pollution indicators. have been included in
62. There exists a close association between the alga and the (a) protista (b) algae
fungus within a lichen. The fungus (c) plantae (d) monera
(a) provides protection, anchorage and absorption for the 75. Which one of the following pathogens causes canker disease ?
alga (a) Meloidogyne incognita
(b) provides food for the alga (b) Anguina tritici
(c) fixes the atmospheric nitrogen for the alga (c) Xanthomonas citri
(d) releases oxygen for the alga (d) Pseudomonas rubilineans
 Biological Classification 33

1. Which statement is true for dinoflagellates flagella ? both were transferred to sea water and got adapted, both X
(a) A single flagellum in the transverse groove between the and Y lost their contractile vacuole. From these observation
cell plates. we conclude that
(b) A single flagellum in the longitudinal groove between (a) Both X and Y are marine species
the cell plates. (b) Species Y is marine species and X is fresh water species
(c) Two flagella, one lies longitudinally and one transversely (c) Species X is marine species and Y is fresh water species
in a furrow between the wall plates. (d) Both X and Y are fresh water species
(d) No flagella. 8. Yeast is not included in protozoans but in fungi because
2. Which is the correct option for the all given characteristics of (a) it has no chlorophyll
fungi ? (b) some fungal hyphae grow in such a way that they give
I. It includes unicellular as well as multicellular fungi. the appearance of pseudomycelium
II. In multicellular forms hyphae are branched and septate. (c) it has eukaryotic organisation
III. Conidiophore produces conidia (spores) exogenously in (d) cell wall is made up of cellulose and reserve food material
chain. is starch
IV. Sexual spores are ascopores produced endogenously in 9. All of the following statements concerning the Actinomycetes
chain. filamentous soil bacterium Frankia are correct except that
V. Fruiting body is called ascocarp. Frankia :
(a) Phycomycetes (b) Sac fungi (a) Can induce root nodules on many plant species.
(c) Club fungi (d) Fungi imperfecti (b) Cannot fix nitrogen in the free-living state.
3. Which one of the following option does not belong to (c) Forms specialized vesicles in which the nitrogenase is
Ascomycetes ? protected from oxygen by a chemical barrier involving
(a) They are saprophytic, decomposer, coprophilous triterpene hopanoids.
(growing on dung) and parasitic. (d) Like Rhizobium, it usually infects its host plant through
(b) They include unicellular (e.g. yeast) and multicellular root hair deformation and stimulates cell proliferation in
forms. the host’s cortex.
(c) Their mycelium is coenocytic. 10. Which one of the following statements about mycoplasma is
(d) Aspergillus, Claviceps, Neurospora are important wrong ?
members of Ascomycetes. (a) They are pleomorphic.
4. In Whittaker’s five kingdom classification, eukaryotes were (b) They are sensitive to penicillin.
assigned to (c) They cause diseases in plants.
(a) all the five kingdom (d) They are also called PPLO.
(b) only four of the five kingdoms 11. In the light of recent classification of living organisms into
(c) only three kingdom three domains of life (bacteria, archaea and eukarya), which
(d) only one kingdom one of the following statements is true about archaea?
5. Mycorrhiza is (a) Archaea resemble eukarya in all respects.
(a) a symbiotic association of plant roots and certain fungi. (b) Archaea have some novel features that are absent in other
(b) an association of algae with fungi. prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
(c) a fungus parasitie on root system of higher plants. (c) Archaea completely differ from both prokaryotes and
(d) an association of Rhizobium with the roots of leguminous eukaryotes.
plants. (d) Archaea completely differ from prokaryotes.
6. Which one of the following statements is true about Archaea? 12. Which one is the wrong pairing for the disease and its causal
(a) Archaea resemble eukaryotes in all respects. organism?
(b) Archaea have some novel features that are absent in other (a) Black rust of wheat - Puccinia graminis
prokaryotes and eukaryotes. (b) Loose smut of wheat - Ustilago nuda
(c) Archaea completely differ from both prokaryotes and (c) Root-knot of vegetables - Meloidogyne sp
eukaryotes. (d) Late blight of potato - Alternaria solani
(d) Archaea completely differ from prokaryotes. 13. Virus envelope is known as:
7. Two species of Amoeba X and Y were kept in fresh water and (a) Capsid (b) Virion
got adapted. Species X developed contractile vacuole. When (c) Nucleoprotein (d) Core
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14. Which one single organism or the pair of organisms is 25. Which of the following processes are involved in the
correctly assigned to its taxonomic group? reproduction of protista?
(a) Paramoecium and Plasmodium belong to the same (a) Binary fission and fragmentation
kingdom as that of Penicillium (b) Cell fusion and zygote formation
(b) Lichen is a composite organism formed from the (c) Spore formation and fragmentation
symbiotic association of an algae and a protozoan (d) Budding and spore formation
(c) Yeast used in making bread and beer is a fungus 26. Auxopores and hormocysts are formed, respectively, by:
(d) Nostoc and Anabaena are examples of protista (a) Some diatoms and several cyanobacteria
15. Malignant tertian malaria is due to (b) Some cyanobacteria and diatoms
(a) Plasmodium falciparum (c) Several cyanobacteria and several diatoms
(b) P. vivax (d) Several diatoms and a few cyanobacteria.
(c) P. ovale 27. Which of the following statements is not true for retroviruses?
(d) P. malariae (a) DNA is not present at any stage in the life cycle of
16. What is common about Trypanosoma, Noctiluca, Monocystis retroviruses
and Giardia ? (b) Retroviruses carry gene for RNA-dependent DNA
(a) They produced spores polymerase
(b) These are all parasites (c) The genetic material in mature retroviruses is RNA
(c) These are all unicellular protists (d) Retroviruses are causative agents for certain kinds of
(d) They have flagella cancer in man
17. Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) has 28. The most thoroughly studied fact of the known bacteria-plant
(a) A single stranded RNA molecule interactions is the
(b) A double stranded RNA molecule (a) cyanobacterial symbiosis with some aquatic ferns
(c) A single stranded DNA molecule (b) gall formation on certain angiosperms by Agrobacterium
(d) A double stranded DNA molecule
(c) nodulation of Sesbania stems by nitrogen fixing bacteria
18. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched ?
(d) plant growth stimulation by phosphate-solubilising
(a) Rhizobium - Parasite in the roots of leguminous plants
bacteria
(b) Mycorrhizae - Mineral uptake from soil
29. Viruses are no more “alive” than isolated chromosomes
(c) Yeast - Production of biogas
because
(d) Myxomycetes - The disease ring worm
(a) both require the environment of a cell to replicate
19. Which of the following are likely to be present in deep sea
(b) they require both RNA and DNA
water ?
(c) they both need food molecules
(a) Eubacteria (b) Blue-green algae
(d) they both require oxygen for respiration
(c) Saprophytic fungi (d) Archaebacteria
30. The main role of bacteria in the carbon cycle involves
20. Which one of the following is true for fungi?
(a) They are phagotrophs (a) photosynthesis
(b) They lack a rigid cell wall (b) chemosynthesis
(c) They are heterotrophs (c) digestion or breakdown of organic compounds
(d) They lack nuclear membrane (d) assimilation of nitrogenous compounds
21. Specialized cells for fixing atmospheric nitrogen in Nostoc 31. Which of the following is not correctly matched?
are (a) Root knot disease - Meloidogyne javanica
(a) Akinetes (b) Heterocysts (b) Smut of bajra - Tolysporium penicillariae
(c) Hormogonia (d) Nodules (c) Covered smut of barley - Ustilago nuda
22. Satellite RNAs are present in some (d) Late blight of potato - Phytophthora infestans
(a) Plant viruses (b) Viroids 32. Reverse transcriptase is
(c) Prions (d) Bacteriophages (a) RNA dependent RNA polymerase
23. Aristotle used simple_______characters to classify plants into (b) DNA dependent RNA polymerase
trees, shrubs and herbs. (c) DNA dependent DNA polymerase
(a) anatomical (b) biochemical (d) RNA dependent DNA polymerase
(c) morphological (d) physiological 33. Organisms which are indicator of SO2 pollution of air
24. Which of the following characteristic is not used by Whittaker (a) Mosses (b) Lichens
for the classification organisms? (c) Mushrooms (d) Puffballs
(a) Mode of nutrition 34. Which of the following is an example of amoeboid protozoan?
(b) Thallus organisation (a) Trypanosoma (b) Paramoecium
(c) Phylogenetic relationships (c) Gonyaulax (d) Entamoeba
(d) None of these
Biological Classification 35

35. Which of the following is a parasitic fungi on the mustard (a) A – Cocci, B – Bacilli, C – Spirilla, D – Vibrio
plant? (b) A – Bacilli, B – Cocci, C – Spirilla, D – Vibrio
(a) Albugo (b) Puccinia (c) A – Spirilla, B – Bacilli, C – Cocci, D – Vibrio
(c) Yeast (d) Ustilago (d) A – Spirilla, B – Vibrio, C – Cocci, D – Bacilli
44. Identify the following figures.
36. Which of the following is used extensively in biochemical
and genetic work?
(a) Agaricus (b) Alternaria
(c) Neurospora (d) Mucor
37. Which of the following is/are example(s) of Deuteromycetes?
(a) Alternaria (b) Colletotrichum
(c) Trichoderma (d) All of these
38. Which of the following group of fungi is commonly known (a) A – Euglena, B – Paramecium, C – Agaricus
as imperfect fungi? (b) A – Euglena, B – Planaria, C – Agaricus
(a) Phycomycetes (b) Ascomycetes (c) A – Planaria, B – Paramecium, C – Agaricus
(c) Basidiomycetes (d) Deuteromycetes (d) A – Euglena, B – Paramecium, C – Aspergillus
39. Bladderwort and Venus fly trap are examples of 45. Match Column - I with Column - II
(a) insectivorous plants (b) parasitic plants Column-I Column-II
(c) N2– rich plants (d) aquatic plants A. Aerobic 1. Frankia
40. The subunit of capsid is called B. Cyanobacteria 2. Azospirillum
(a) Core (b) Nucleotide C. Casuarina 3. Clostridium
D. Tropical grasses 4. Aulosira
(c) Amino acid (d) Capsomere
5. Azotobacter
41. All are viral diseases except
(a) A ® 4; B ® 3; C ® 2; D ® 1
(a) AIDS and mumps (b) Small pox and herpes
(b) A ® 3; B ® 5; C ® 4; D ® 2
(c) Influenza (d) Cholera
(c) A ® 2; B ® 1; C ® 3; D ® 5
42. Which option is true for A, B, C and D?
(d) A ® 5; B ® 4; C ® 1; D ® 2
46. Match Column - I with Column - II
Column-I Column-II
(Group Protista) (Example)
A. Chrysophytes 1. Paramecium
B. Dinoflagellates 2. Euglena
C. Euglenoids 3. Gonyaulax
D. Protozoans 4. Diatoms
(a) A ® 1; B ® 3; C ® 2; D ® 4
(b) A ® 2; B ® 4; C ® 3; D ® 1
(c) A ® 4; B ® 2; C ® 3; D ® 1
(d) A ® 4; B ® 3; C ® 2; D ® 1
A B C D 47. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about
(a) Tail fibres Head Sheath Collar mycoplasma ?
(b) Sheath Collar Head Tail fibres (1) Mycoplasma has no cell wall.
(c) Head Sheath Collar Tail fibres (2) Mycoplasma is the smallest living organism.
(d) Collar Tail fibres Head Sheath (3) Mycoplasma cannot survive without O2.
43. Choose the correct names of the different bacteria according (4) Mycoplasma are pathogenic in animals and plants.
to their shapes. (5) True sexuality is not found in bacteria.
(6) A short of sexual reproduction by adopting a primitive
DNA transfer from one bacterium to the other occurs.
Choose the answer from the following options
(a) All of these
(b) Only (3)
(c) (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6)
(d) (1), (3) and (6)
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48. Which of the following is correct about the slime mould ? 49. Fungi can be parasites on –
(1) Its thalloid body, Plasmodium has pseudopodia for (1) Animals (2) Human being
locomotion and engulfing organic matter. (3) Plants
Choose the answer from the following options
(2) During unfavourable conditions Plasmodium
(a) Only (1) (b) (2) and (3)
differentiates and produces fruiting bodies, sporangium. (c) (1) and (2) (d) All of these
(3) Spores posses no true cell wall. 50. Which of the following statments are true about virues ?
(4) They are dispersed by air current. (1) Viruses are obligate parasites
(5) Being extremely resistant, spores survive for many years. (2) Viruses can multiply only when they are inside the living
(6) Plasmodium can grow upto several feet. cells
Choose the answer from the following options (3) Viruses cannot pass through bacterial proof filters
(4) Viruses are made up of protein + DNA or RNA (never
(a) (1),(2), (4), (5) and (6)
both DNA and RNA)
(b) (1),(2) and (3) Choose the answer from the following options
(c) (1),(2), (3) and (6) (a) (1) and (2) (b) (1), (2) and (3)
(d) (2),(3) and (6) (c) (1), (2) and (4) (d) All of these

Exemplar Questions 10. With respect to fungal sexual cycle, choose the correct
1. All eukaryotic unicellular organisms belong to sequence of events.
(a) Monera (b) Protista (a) Karyogamy, Plasmogamy and Meiosis
(c) Fungi (d) Bacteria (b) Meiosis, Plasmogamy and Karyogamy
2. The five kingdom classification was proposed by (c) Plasmogamy, Karyogamy and Meiosis
(a) R.H. Whittaker (b) C. Linnaeus (d) Meiosis, Karyogamy and Plasmogamy
(c) A Roxberg (d) Virchow 11. Viruses are non-cellular organisms, but replicate themselves
3. Organisms living in salty areas are called as once they infect the host cell. To which of the following
(a) methanogens (b) halophiles kingdom do viruses belong to?
(c) heliophytes (d) thermoacidophiles (a) Monera (b) Protista
4. Naked cytoplasm, multinucleated and saprophytic are the (c) Fungi (d) None of these
characteristics of 12. Members of phycomycetes are found in
(a) Monera (b) Protista (i) Aquatic habitats
(c) Fungi (d) Slime molds (ii) On decaying wood
5. An association between roots of higher plants and fungi is (iii) Moist and damp places
called (iv) As obligate parasites on plants
(a) lichen (b) fern Choose from the following options.
(c) mycorrhiza (d) BGA (a) (i) and (iv) (b) (ii) and (iii)
6. A dikaryon is formed when (c) None of these (d) All of these
(a) meiosis is arrested NEET/AIPMT (2013-2017) Questions
(b) the two haploid cells do not fuse immediately
(c) cytoplasm does not fuse 13. Which of the following are likely to be present in deep sea
(d) None of the above water ? [2013]
7. Contagium vivum fluidum was proposed by (a) Eubacteria (b) Blue-green algae
(a) D.J. Ivanowsky (b) M.W. Beijernek (c) Saprophytic fungi (d) Archaebacteria
(c) Stanley (d) Robert Hook 14. Which one of the following is true for fungi?
8. Association between mycobiont and phycobiont are found in (a) They are phagotrophs [NEET Kar. 2013]
(a) mycorrhiza (b) root (b) They lack a rigid cell wall
(c) lichens (d) BGA (c) They are heterotrophs
9. Difference between virus and viroid is (d) They lack nuclear membrane
(a) absence of protein coat in viroid, but present in virus. 15. Specialized cells for fixing atmospheric nitrogen in Nostoc
(b) presence of low molecular weight RNA in virus, but are [NEET Kar. 2013]
absent in viroid (a) Akinetes (b) Heterocysts
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d)None of the above (c) Hormogonia (d) Nodules
Biological Classification 37

16. Satellite RNAs are present in some [NEET Kar. 2013] 27. The structures that help some bacteria to attach to rocks and /
(a) Plant viruses (b) Viroids or host tissues are: [2015 RS]
(c) Prions (d) Bacteriophages (a) Fimbriae (b) Mesosomes
17. Five kingdom system of classification suggested by R.H. (c) Holdfast (d) Rhizoids
Whittaker is not based on: [2014] 28. Pick up the wrong statement [2015 RS]
(a) Presence or absence of a well defined nucleus. (a) Prostista have photosynthetic and heterotrophic modes
(b) Mode of reproduction. of nutrition
(b) Some fungi are edible
(c) Mode of nutrition.
(c) Nuclear membrane is present Monera
(d) Complexity of body organisation. (d) Cell wall is absent in Animalia
18. Which one of the following fungi contains hallucinogens? 29. In which group of organisms the cell walls form two thin
(a) Morchella esculenta [2014] overlapping shells which fit together? [2015 RS]
(b) Amanita muscaria (a) Euglenoids (b) Dinoflagellates
(c) Neurospora sp. (c) Slime moulds (d) Chrysophytes
(d) Ustilago sp. 30. Choose the wrong statement: [2015 RS]
19. Archaebacteria differ from eubacteria in: [2014] (a) Neurospora is used in the study of biochemical genetics
(a) Cell membrane (b) Morels and truffles are poisonous mushrooms
(b) Mode of nutrition (c) Yeast is unicellular and useful in fermentation
(c) Cell shape (d) Penicillium is multicellular and produces antibiotics
(d) Mode of reproduction 31. Which of the following are most suitable indicators of SO2
20. Which of the following shows coiled RNA strand and pollution in the environment? [2015 RS]
capsomeres? [2014] (a) Conifers (b) Algae
(a) Polio virus (c) Fungi (d) Lichens
(b) Tobacco mosaic virus 33. Which of the following statements is wrong for viroids?
(a) They lack a protein coat [2016]
(c) Measles virus
(b) They are smaller than viruses
(d) Retrovirus (c) They cause infections
21. Viruses have: [2014] (d) Their RNA is of high molecular weight
(a) DNA enclosed in a protein coat 33. One of the major components of cell wall of most fungi is
(b) Prokaryotic nucleus (a) Chitin (b) Peptidoglycan [2016]
(c) Single chromosome (c) Cellulose (d) Hemicellulose
(d) Both DNA and RNA 34. Which one of the following statements is wrong? [2016]
22. The motile bacteria are able to move by: [2014] (a) Cyanobacteria are also called blue-green algae
(a) Fimbriae (b) Flagella (b) Golden algae are also called desmids
(c) Cilia (d) Pili (c) Eubacteria are also called false bacteria
23. Which one one of the following matches is correct ? (d) Phycomycetes are also called algal fungi
[2015 RS] 35. Chrysophytes, Euglenoids, Dinoflagellates and Slime moulds
1. Alternaria Sexual Deuteromycetes are included in the kingdom [2016]
reproduction (a) Monera (b) Protista
absent (c) Fungi (d) Animalia
36. Which of the following are found in extreme saline conditions ?
2. Mucor Reproduction Ascomycetes
(a) Eubacteria (b) Cyanobacteria [2017]
by Conjugation (c) Mycobacteria (d) Archaebacteria
3. Agaricus Parasitic fungus Basidiomycetes 37. Which of the following components provides sticky character
4. Phytophthora Aseptate Basidiomycetes to the bacterial cell? [2017]
mycelium (a) Nuclear membrane
24. True nucleus is absent in : [2015 RS] (b) Plasma membrane
(a) Mucor (b) Vaucheria (c) Glycocalyx
(c) Volvox (d) Anabaena (d) Cell wall
25. Which of the following structures is not found in a prokary- 38. Viroids differ from viruses in having; [2017]
otic cell? [2015 RS] (a) DNA molecules without protein coat
(a) Ribosome (b) RNA molecules with protein coat
(b) Mesosome (c) RNA molecules without protein coat
(c) Plasma membrane (d) DNA molecules with protein coat
(d) Nuclear envelope 39. Which among the following are the smallest living cells,
26. The imperfect fungi which are decomposers of litter and help known without a definite cell wall, pathogenic to plants as
in mineral cycling belong to: [2015 RS] well as animals and can survive without oxygen? [2017]
(a) Pseudomonas (b) Mycoplasma
(a) Basidiomycetes (b) Phycomycetes
(c) Ascomycetes (d) Deuteromycetes (c) Nostoc (d) Bacillus
 EBD_7051
38 BIOLOGY

Hints & Solutions

EXERCISE - 1 and hence also called bread mould.
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (d) 37. (b) 38. (b) 39. (d) 40. (b) 41. (d)
6. (c) 7. (a) 42. (b) 43. (c)
8. (b) In G+ (Gram-positive bacteria) cell wall is 200-300 Å 44. (d) Pseudomycelium is characteristic feature of yeast.
thick, having mucopeptides 85% and lipids 1-2% while 45. (a) 46. (a) 47. (b) 48. (a) 49. (a)
in G– (Gram-negative bacteria) cell wall is 100-200 Å 50. (d) 51. (b) 52. (c)
thick and mucopeptides are 10-12% and lipids are 80- 53. (a) Members of kingdom Protista have diverse mode of
90%. nutrition. They are photosynthetic, saprophytic parasitic
9. (a) 10. (d) 11. (b) and ingestive. They are majorheterotrophs.
12. (b) Mycoplasma are cell wall less cells but show
54. (d) 55. (a)
multiplication like bacteria, so that they are termed as
cell wall less bacteria. 56. (a) These are archaebacteria which can tolerate high
13. (c) 14. (c) 15. (c) 16. (d) 17. (a) temperature
18. (a) 19. (a) 57. (d) The most abundant prokaryotes helpful to humans in
20. (c) The cilia of extreme posterior end are longer and form a making curd from milk and in production of antibiotics
bunch called caudal tuft.
21. (c) 22. (d) 23. (a) 24. (d) 25. (a) are the heterotrophic bacteria. Lactobacillis bacteria
26. (b) Late blight of potato is a seed born disease which is convert milk into curd.
caused by Phytophthora infestans. The disease is 58. (d) Cyanobacteria are also referred to as blue green algae,
characterised by brownish to blackish dead areas on the they perform oxygenic photosynthesis. They are most
tip and margin of the leaflet leading to blighting of the successful autotrophic organisms on earth which are
whole leaf. So the tuber formation is reduced. found in all types of environment - fresh water, sea water,
27. (a) Claviceps puerpurea is a fungus which causes ergotism
salt marshes, moist rocks, tree trunks, moist soils, hot
in rye (Secale cereale) and other plants. It also yields a
springs, frozen waters.
hallucinogenic drug called LSD.
28. (c) All fungi are heterotrophs in their nutrition. Some depend 59. (d)
upon organic matter known as saprophytes. 60. (a) The symbiotic association of fungi and algae is called
29. (d) The members of division basidiomycota (class lichen.
basidiomycetes) are commonly called club fungi because 61. (b)
the basidia are club shaped. 62. (a) Lichens (coined by Theophrastus) are composite or dual
30. (d) Agaricus campestris is a common field mushroom, organisms which are formed by a fungus partner or
Morchella esculenta have apothecia type of edible mycobiont (mostly ascomycetes) and an algal partner
ascocarp and Podaxon prodaxis is also edible. (mostly blue green algae). Fungus forms the body of
31. (a) In gametangial copulation two gametangia come in lichen as well as its attaching and absorbing structures.
contact and fuse completely to form a zygote or Algae performs photosynthesis and provides food to the
zygospore. It is found in members of zygomycetes, e.g., fungus.
Rhizopus and Mucor. 63. (a) The thalloid body of slime moulds is made up of
multinucleated cell which lacks septa in between and
32. (a)
hence it is a multinucleated single celled mass called
33. (b) It is the first stage of sexual reproduction in which the
plasmodium.
cytoplasm of two sex cells fuse with each other. The
64. (d) The class Basidiomycetes includes those members that
nuclei of sex cells come close to each other but do not
produce their basidia and basidiospores on or in a
fuse. Thus the resulting cell becomes binucleate or
basidiocarp.
dikaryon.
65. (a) Physarum polycephalum belongs to phylum Amoebozoa,
34. (a) In many members of basidiomycetes, cell division
infraphylum Mycetozoa, and class Myxogastrea. P.
accompanied by clamp connection. These are bridge
polycephalum, often referred to as the “many-headed
(hook) like connection. They function as bypass hyphae
slime,” is a slime mold that inhabits shady, cool, moist
through which nuclei migrate to make all of mycelium
dikaryotic. areas, such as decaying leaves and logs.
66. (a) Thermococcus, Methanococcus and Methanobacterium
35. (a)
exemplify archaebacteria that contain protein
36. (b) Rhizopus (pin mould or black mould) grows on bread
homologous to eukaryotic core histones.
 Biological Classification 39

67. (b) Mannitol is a food stored in Fucus. Fucus is a genus of formed from the symbiotic association of an algae and a
brown alga in the class Phaeophyceae found in the fungus. Nostoc & Anabaena are examples of kingdom
intertidal zones of rocky sea shores almost everywhere monera.
in the world. Primary chemical constituents of this plant 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (b)
include mucilage, algin, mannitol, beta-carotene, 19. (d) Archaebactera live in some of the most harsh habitats
zeaxanthin, iodine, bromine, potassium, volatile oils, and such as extreme salty areas (halophiles), hot springs
many other minerals. (thermoacidophiles) and marshy areas (methanogens)
68. (a) Single celled eukaryotes are included in protista. Protista and in deep sea water.
includes all unicellular and colonial eukaryotes except 20. (c) Fungi lack chlorophyll, hence, they do not prepare their
green and red algae. It is also known as kingdom of food by photosynthesis. They can grow where organic
unicellular eukaryotes. material is available. So, they are heterotrophs that
69. (b) Ring worm is a fungal disease caused by the acquire their nutrient by absorption and store in the form
dermatophyte fungi species of Microsporum, of glycogen.
Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. 21. (b) Heterocysts are large sized, thick-walled specialised cells
70. (b) E. coli is a prokaryotic celled gram negative bacterium. which occur in terminal, intercalary or lateral position
71. (a) Eubacteria are prokaryotic but eubacteria are enclosed in filamentous cyanobacteria, e.g., Nostoc. They have
by plasma membrane like eukaryotic cells. enzyme nitrogenase and specialised to perform biological
72. (b) Methanogens are archaebacteria abundant in cattle yard nitrogen fixation.
22. (a) Plant viruses often contain parasites of their own, referred
and paddy fields.
to as satellites. Satellite RNAs are dependent on their
73. (a)
associated (helper) virus for both replication and
74. (b) Chlamydomonas & Chlorella have been included in
encapsidation. Example—Tobacco Necrosis Virus
algae. Algae are chlorophyllous, thalloid avascular plants
(TNV).
with no cellular differentiation. Algae belong to
thallophyta of plant kingdom. 23. (c) 24. (d) 25. (b)
26. (d) Binary fission in diatoms reduces the size of most
75. (c)
daughters which is corrected through the development
EXERCISE - 2 of auxospores.
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (b) 5. (a) In some filamentous cyanobacterial forms unisexual
6. (b) 7. (c) 8. (b) reproduction occurs by hormogonia (hormocysts). They
are identified by presence of biconcave (one disk or
9. (b) Frankia, is a nitrogen fixing mycelial bacterium which
separation disc between two adjacent cells e.g.
is associated symbiotically (and not free living) with the Oscillatoria).
root nodules of several non legume plants. 27. (a) Retroviruses have RNA as the genetic material and hence
10. (b) While working at the Rockefeller Institute, Brown they exhibit reverse transcription whereby DNA is
reported isolation of a PPLO from human arthritic joint synthesized on RNA template. They have reverse
tissue in 1938. In discussing the significance of this transcriptase as the enzyme.
observation, Brown reported successful treatment of 28. (b) This phenomenon has been successfully used in genetic
arthritic patients in 1949 with a new antibiotic called engineering to produce disease resistant varieties of
aureomycin (Clark, 1997). plants.
11. (b) A domain of prokaryotic organisms containing the 29. (a) Viruses can live only inside the host cell, using their
archaebacteria including the methanogens, which machinery for its own metabolism.
produce methane; the thermoacidophilic bacteria, which 30. (a) These are archaebacteria which can tolerate high
live in extremely hot and acidic environments, & the temperature.
halophilic bacteria, which can only function at high salt 31. (c) Phytoalexins are non-specific antibiotic substances
concentrations are abundant in the world’s oceans. produced by plants in response to infection by a fungus.
32. (b) All viruses are nucleoprotein (Nucleic acid + Protein) in
12. (d) Late blight is caused by the fungus Phytophthora
their structure. The nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) is
infestans. Late blight appears on potato or tomato leaves
genetic material. In a particular virus either DNA or RNA
as pale green, water-soaked spots, often beginning at
is the genetic material. Both are never present in a virus.
leaftips or edges.
Hence, viruses contains:
13. (a) Virus envelope is known as capsid. The capsid is (i) Double stranded DNA (ds DNA) - Hepatitis B
composed of protein subunits called capsomere. (ii) Single stranded DNA (ss DNA) - Coliphage
14. (c) Saccharomyces cervisiae is a yeast used in making bread (iii) Double stranded RNA (ds RNA) - Reo virus, wound
(Baker’s yeast) and commercial production of ethanol. Tumor virus
Paramoecium & Plasmodium are of animal kingdom (iv) Single stranded RNA (ss RNA) - Tobacco mosaic virus
while Pencillium is a fungi. Lichen is composite organism (TMV)
 EBD_7051
40 BIOLOGY

33. (b) 34. (d) 35. (a) 36. (c) 37. (d) 38. (d) Whereas lichens are the symbiotic association between
39. (a) 40. (d) 41. (d) 42. (c) 43. (a) 44. (a) algae and fungi. Ferns are a group of plants, belonging
45. (d) 46. (d) 47. (c) 48. (a) 49. (d) 50. (c) to pteridophytes like other vascular plants and BGA is
EXERCISE - 3 blue-green algae with a prokaryotic cell.
6. (b) Dikaryon is a cell with two nucleus. This results when
Exemplar Questions
two somatic cells fuse but their nucleus do not fuse
1. (b) Protista is a group comprising of all unicellular immediately. Meiosis does not result in such conditions.
eukaryotic plants and animals. The organisms included 7. (b) M.W. Beijerinck proposed contagium vivum fluidum
in this group are either photoautotrophs, heterotrophs or which means contagious living fluid. This phrase was
parasites.
first used to describe virus, characteristic in escaping from
Monera includes prokaryotic organisms like bacteria,
the finest mesh available.
unicellular organism.
Fungi are eukaryotic but are mostly multicellular (yeast D.J. Ivanowsky was a Russian botanist who discovered
is unicellular). the filterable nature of viruses and is one of the founders
2. (a) R.H. Whittaker (1969), an American taxonomist divided of virology.
organism into five kingdoms, in order to develop Stanley Miller was a Jewish American chemist who
phylogenetic classification. experimented on origin of life on primitive earth.
(i) Monera (ii) Protista Robert Hooke was the first to study and visualise cells
(iii) Fungi (iv) Plantae using his primitive microscope.
(v) Animalia 8. (c) Lichens are organisms comprised of a permanent
C Linnaeus developed two kingdom classification. symbiotic association of a fungus and an alga.The fungal
(i) Kingdom-Plantae partner is called mycobiont an the algal partner is called
(ii) Kingdom-Animalia.
phycobiont.
and Virchow is associated with the discovery of cell
Mycorrhiza is an association of fungus with the roots of
theory.
higher plants, but not with an algae, while BGA is blue
3. (b) Halophiles are organisms inhabiting areas with high
concentration of salts. The name halophiles means 'salt green algae, a member of Monera with a prokaryotic cell
loving'. structure.
Heliophytes are the plants that grow best in sunlight and 9. (a) Viruses contain DNA or RNA as the genetic material and
can not survive in dark conditions. a protein coat, whereas viroids have no protein coat, but
Methanogens are the bacteria that produce methane as a only RNA as their nucleic acid. This is the reason why
metabolic byproduct under anaerobic conditions. viroids are carried inside viruses. e.g., hepatitis-D is a
Thermoacidophiles are archaebacteria able to survive viroid carried inside the capsid of hepatitis-B virus.
under strong acidic environments and high temperatures, 10. (c) Plasmogamy means fusion of protoplasm while
but cannot tolerate high salt concentrations around them. karyogamy means fusion of nucleus. These two events
4. (d) Slime molds are saprophytic protists, that move along lead to the formation of zygote (2n) which is a diploid
the dead leaves engulfing organic matter. These are
structure where meiosis occurs.
multinucleated with no cell wall and have naked
11. (d) In the five kingdom classification proposed by Whittaker,
cytoplasm.
Monerans are prokaryotes, comprised of all bacteria. non-cellular organisms like viruses and viroids are not
Protists are a group of eukaryotic organisms, that bear a included. Viruses were not placed in the classification
well defined membrane around cytoplasm, may be since they are not truly 'living' and hence, they are
uninucleate or multinucleated. Their cell has well considered as non-cellular.
developed cell wall made of chitin. 12. (d) Phycomycetes are fungi that can thrive on dead and
5. (c) Mycorrhiza is a symbiotic association of fungus with decaying wood as saprophytes. These prefer to live in
the roots of a higher plants like gymnosperms and moist and damp places and need water for the movement
angiosperms. of zoospore and sexual gametes.
The fungus is dependent on plants for food and shelter, Few members of phycomycetes are obligate parasites like
while the plants are benefitted by the fungal hyphae as Phytophthora infestans that causes late blight of potato
they help in absorption of water and dissolved minerals
and Peronospora viticola causing downy mildew of
present in the soil debris and make it available to the
grapes.
plants.
 Biological Classification 41

NEET/AIPMT (2013-2017) Questions Virus envelope is known as capsid. The capsid is com-
13. (d) Archaebactera live in some of the most harsh habitats posed of protein subunits called capsomere.
such as extreme salty areas (halophiles), hot springs 22. (b) Motile bacteria have thin filamentous extensions on their
(thermoacidophiles) and marshy areas (methanogens) cell wall called flagella.
and in deep sea water. 23. (a) Alternaria belongs to class - Deuteromycetes, which lack
14. (c) Fungi lack chlorophyll, hence, they do not prepare their sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction takes place
food by photosynthesis. They can grow where organic by conidia produced on conidiophores.
material is available. So, they are heterotrophs that 24. (d) Anabaena is a cyanobacteria which lack a true nucleus
acquire their nutrient by absorption and store in the form because of absence of nuclear membrane.
of glycogen. 25. (d) Nuclear envelope is not found in a prokaryotic cell.
15. (b) Heterocysts are large sized, thick-walled specialised cells 26. (d) Class- deuteromycetes comprises of imperfect fungi
which occur in terminal, intercalary or lateral position which play role in decomposition of organic wastes.
in filamentous cyanobacteria, e.g., Nostoc. They have 27. (a) Fimbriae assist some bacteria in attaching to rocks or
enzyme nitrogenase and are specialised to perform host body for obtaining establishment and nutrition.
biological nitrogen fixation. 28. (c) The kingdom Monera possesses unicellular organisms
16. (a) Plant viruses often contain parasites of their own, referred (e.g - bacteria) having no nuclear membrane.
to as satellites. Satellite RNAs are dependent on their 29. (d) In chrysophytes, the cell walls form two thin overlapping
associated (helper) virus for both replication and shells held together. The body of Diatoms appear like
encapsidation. Example—Tobacco Necrosis Virus soap box due to overlapping shells.
(TNV). Viroids are infectious agents smaller than viruses.
30. (b) Morel and truffles are used as food and they are members
Bacteriophages are viruses that infect the bacteria. A
of Ascomycetes fungi.
prion is an infectious agent that is composed primarily
31. (d) Lichens cannot grow in places where sulphur dioxide is
of protein.
present in the environment.
17. (a) Five kingdom system of classification was proposed
by R.H. Whittaker (1969). The five kingdom 32. (d) Viroids, the smallest known pathogens, are naked,
classification is based on the following criteria : circular, single-stranded RNA molecules that do not
• Complexity of cell structure – Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes encode protein but autonomously replicate when
• Complexity of organisms body – Unicellular or introduced into host plants. Viroids only infect plants;
Multicellular some cause economically important diseases of crop
• Mode of obtaining nutrition – Autotrophic or plants, while others appear to be benign.
Heterotrophic 33. (a) A cell wall is a rigid structural layer, which provides
• Phylogenetic relationships protection and structural support to the cells. The
18. (b) Several mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria, Psilocybe composition of cell wall varies from one species to
mexicana and Panaeolus spp. secrete hallucinogenic another. In fungi, the cell wall is composed of strong
substances like psilocybin and psilocin. These substances covalent linkages of chitin, glucans and glycoproteins.
may destroy brain cells and power perception of in human Alternatively, in case of land plants, the cell wall is
beings. composed of cellulose and hemicellulose. Archean cell
19. (a) Archaebacteria differ from other bacteria in having a walls consists of peptidoglycans.
different cell wall structure. They lack peptidoglyan in 34. (c) Eubacteria are the true bacteria.
cell wall and possess a monolayer of branched fatty acids 35. (b) All unicellular eukaryotic organism like diatoms, desmids
attached to glycerol by ether bonds in their cell (chrysophytes), euglenoids, dinoflagellates and slime
membranes. mould are included in Protista.
20. (b) TMV (Tobacco Mosaic Virus) is a rod-shaped virus. 36. (d) Archaebacteria are able to survive in harsh conditions
The rod has a core which contains helically coiled single due to the presence of branched lipid chain in cell
stranded RNA. There is a protective covering of protein
membrane that reduces fluidity of cell membrane.
called capsid around the infective part. Capsid consists
It includes halophiles which are exclusively found in
of small subunits called capsomeres and has antigenic
saline habitats.
property.
37. (c) Sticky character of the bacterial wall is due to glycocalyx
21. (a) All viruses are nucleoproteins (Nucleic acid + Protein)
in the structure. The nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) is the which is rich in glycoproteins.
genetic material. In a particular virus either DNA or RNA 38. (c) Viroids in nature are sub-viral agents as infectious RNA
is the genetic material. Both are never present in a virus. particles, without protein coat.
Single stranded RNA or ss RNA - Tobacco mosaic virus 39. (b) Mycoplasmas are smallest, prokaryotes lacking cell wall
(TMV) and are pleomorphic in nature. These are pathogenic to
both plants and animals.