This presentation explains in detail, the classification of living organisms,nomenclature systems, what is taxonomy, its parts, how organisms are classified in the taxonomical hierarchy, etc.

1. Classification of Microorganisms
General principles and Nomenclature ,
Haeckel’s three kingdom & Whittaker’s five kingdom concept

2. Introduction
 Diversity of Living organisms – Plants, Animals and
Microorganisms
 Why Classification?
 Aristotle – Classified as Plants & Animals 2000 years
ago
 John Ray – defined Species (similar pattern) &
Genera (closely related species)
 Carolous Linnaeus – proposed science of Taxonomy
– basic rules & Binomial nomenclature

3. Taxonomy – Science of biological classification
Classification
IdentificationNomenclature
“taxis” – arrangement
“nomos” – law
GREEK
Definition : “Orderly arranging organisms of study into groups of larger units
It consists of 3 interrelated parts: Arranging organisms into groups /
taxa
Mutual similarity
Evolutionary relatedness
Assigning names to taxonomic
groups
Following published rules
Practical side of taxonomy
Naming & Classifying

4. Classification
 Phenetic / Phenotypic classification
> Morphological traits
> How an organism looks?
 Phylogenetic / Cladistic classification
> Evolutionary trait
> Common ancestor
> Molecular taxonomy

5. Nomenclature
 Polynomial system
 Binomial nomenclature – Linnaeus
 Eg: Homo sapien
 Homo – genus , sapien – species
 Homo sapien / Homo sapien
 Genus – 1st letter Capitalized
 Species - lower case
 G. species

6. Taxonomy – Levels of Classification
 Based on Morphology, Physiology & Metabolism,
Ecology, and Genetic analysis

7. Taxonomical hierarchy
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Animalia
Plantae
Chordata
Arthropod
a
Reptilia
Mammalia
Primata
(Monkey, Ape, Man)
Carnivora
Felidae
Canidae
Panthera
Felis
Panthera leo
Panthera tigris
Panthera
pardus

8. Divisions of Life -
Kingdom system of classification
Three kingdom system
(Protista, Animalia, Plantae)
Five kingdom system
(Monera, Potista, Fungi, Animalia, Plantae)
Six kingdom system
(Bacteria, Archaea, Protista, Fungi, Animalia, Plantae)
Eight kingdom system
(Bacteria, Archaea, Archezoa, Potista, Plantae, Chromista, Fungi,
Animalia)

9. Three kingdom system
 Introduced by Ernest Haeckel (1866)
Protista
Animalia
Three
kingdom
Plantae
Unicellular organisms
(Bacteria, Protozoa, Algae,
Fungi)

10. Five Kingdom system
 RH Whittaker (1969)
 Main criteria:
Cellular organization
(Prokaryote/ Eukaryote)
(Unicellular / Multicellular)
Mode of nutrition
(Absorption/ Ingestion/
Photoautotrophic)
Reproduction
(Sexual/ Asexual)