Chapter deals with basics of systematics and Taxonomy. The chapter introduces biology students about various components of living world like taxonomy, systematics and various taxonomical aids.

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2.  Ernst Mayor – The Darwin of the 20th century
 He almost single
the central question
also pioneered the currently
biological species.
biological species.
 Mayr was awarded
triple crown of biology
International Prize
1999.
The Darwin of the 20th century’.
single-handedly made the origin of species div
the central question of evolutionary biology that it is toda
the currently accepted definition of a
biological species.
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biological species.
was awarded the three prizes widely regarded as th
of biology: the Balzan Prize in 1983, the
International Prize for Biology in 1994, and the Crafoord Pr

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4. Thus, growth in living things is internal, while in non
It is to be noted that a dead organism do not grow.
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Thus, growth in living things is internal, while in non-living things, it is externa
It is to be noted that a dead organism do not grow.

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7. ular organisation of the body is the defining feature
organisation of the body is the defining feature of life forms.
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8. Consciousness
Consciousness 8

9. Diversity in the Living world
 The term biological diversity
refers to the variety of life
forms and habitats found in a
defined area.
defined area.
 Biodiversity represents the
totality of genes, species and
ecosystems of a region.
Diversity in the Living world 9

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12. stematics includes the following:
Identification – It aims at finding the correct name
appropriate position of an organism.
morphological and anatomical characters are examined
for proper identification.
Classification – classification is the process by
Classification – classification is the process by
organisms are grouped into categories based on
easily observable characters.
Nomenclature – Nomenclature is the system
naming living organism in a way that a particular
organism is known by the same name all over
world.
name and
The
examined
which
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which
on some
system of
particular
over the

13. Classification
t helps to identify an organism easily.
New organisms easily get correct place in their respective groups
t makes study of fossils easy.
t also helps in building evolutionary pathways
t becomes easy to know the features of whole group by studying
the group.
all living organisms are classified into different
all living organisms are classified into different
orphology (External characters)
natomy (Internal structure)
ytology (cell structure)
hysiology (life Processes)
ntogeny (development)
eproduction
ehaviour
ochemistry
organisms easily get correct place in their respective groups.
also helps in building evolutionary pathways.
becomes easy to know the features of whole group by studying one or two organism
living organisms are classified into different taxa based on following characteristics :
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living organisms are classified into different taxa based on following characteristics :

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16. Nomenclature
i. Common Names
ntages of Common Names :
Common names are easy to pronounce and are short, e.g., Cat or
People are familiar to these names since childhood.
They are based on some features of organisms, e.g.,
dvantages of Common Names :
dvantages of Common Names :
All the organisms cannot be named by this method as there are organism of different sizes and
An organism may have several names in a given language, e.g.,
A common names may have different meanings in different countries, e.g.,
Common names may have little relevance, e.g., Lady’s finger (okra), widows tears (
Common names may be incorrect, e.g., Jelly fish (a coelenterate),
These names are not useful for scientific studies.
Nomenclature
Common Names
Common names are easy to pronounce and are short, e.g., Cat or billi.
They are based on some features of organisms, e.g., Cowa (crow—sound).
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All the organisms cannot be named by this method as there are organism of different sizes and shapes.
An organism may have several names in a given language, e.g., water lily has 15 English names.
A common names may have different meanings in different countries, e.g., custard apple/sitaphal/pumpkin.
Common names may have little relevance, e.g., Lady’s finger (okra), widows tears (Tradescantia-Rhoeo), etc.
Common names may be incorrect, e.g., Jelly fish (a coelenterate), starfish (an echinoderm) are not real fishes.

17. Nomenclature
ii. Scientific Names
he system of providing scientific names is called
he scientific names must be
a) acceptable in every part of the world.
b) assigned on agreed principles and criteria.
b) assigned on agreed principles and criteria.
c) different for each species and not used for other
Nomenclature
Scientific Names
he system of providing scientific names is called binomial nomenclatur
a) acceptable in every part of the world.
b) assigned on agreed principles and criteria.
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b) assigned on agreed principles and criteria.
c) different for each species and not used for other organisms earlier.

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19. ules of Binomial Nomenclature
 Initially framed by Linnaeus in his books, Species
Systema Naturae.
 The rules were revised again by the following nomenclature codes
(i) International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
(i) International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
(ii) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
(iii) International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature (ICBN).
(iv) International Code of Viral Nomenclature (ICVN).
(v) International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
(ICNCP).
ules of Binomial Nomenclature
Linnaeus in his books, Species Plantarum and
The rules were revised again by the following nomenclature codes
) International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
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) International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
(ii) International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
(iii) International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature (ICBN).
(iv) International Code of Viral Nomenclature (ICVN).
(v) International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants

20. he rules of nomenclature by Linnaeus and
he first word in a biological name represent the genus while, the second
omponent denotes the specific epithet
oth the words in a biological name, when handwritten are separately
nderlined or printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin
he first word denoting the genus starts with capital letter while, the spec
pithet starts with a small letter, e.g., Mangifera
pithet starts with a small letter, e.g., Mangifera
eneric and common names may be same, e.g., Gorilla
he name of categories higher than the rank of genus are not printed in ita
old letters can, however be used.
When a species is transferred or revised, the name of the original worker
tained but in parenthesis, e.g., Syzygium
Linnaeus and other codes
first word in a biological name represent the genus while, the second
omponent denotes the specific epithet.
the words in a biological name, when handwritten are separately
nderlined or printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin.
first word denoting the genus starts with capital letter while, the spec
Mangifera indica.
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Mangifera indica.
and common names may be same, e.g., Gorilla gorilla.
name of categories higher than the rank of genus are not printed in ita
a species is transferred or revised, the name of the original worker
Syzygium cumini (L) Skeels.

21. dvantages of Binomial Nomenclature
Binomial names are universally acceptable and recognised
They remain same in all languages.
The names are small and comprehensive
There is a mechanism to provide a scientific name to every newly
There is a mechanism to provide a scientific name to every newly
discovered organisms.
The names indicate relationship of a species with other species present
the same genus.
A new organism can be easily provided with a new scientific name.
dvantages of Binomial Nomenclature
names are universally acceptable and recognised.
.
names are small and comprehensive.
is a mechanism to provide a scientific name to every newly
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is a mechanism to provide a scientific name to every newly
names indicate relationship of a species with other species present
new organism can be easily provided with a new scientific name.

22. axonomic Categories
Intermediate Categories
The taxonomic categories from species to kingdom are
broad categories or obligate categories. However,
taxonomists have also developed sub-categories in this
hierarchy to facilitate more sound and scientific
placement of various taxa. These sub-categories are sub
species (or varieties), sub-genera, sub-families, sub
species (or varieties), sub-genera, sub-families, sub
orders, sub-classes and sub-phyla.
These sub-categories are referred to as intermediate
categories.
axonomic Categories
The taxonomic categories from species to kingdom are
broad categories or obligate categories. However,
categories in this
hierarchy to facilitate more sound and scientific
categories are sub-
families, sub-
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families, sub-
categories are referred to as intermediate
Keep Pot Clean Or Family G

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25. Uses of Herbaria
uses of herbaria are listed below :
hese are used for identification of plants.
ompilation of floras, monographs and manuals are mainly
erbaria are useful in locating wild varieties and relatives of
erbaria are useful in locating wild varieties and relatives of
hey help in knowing the morphological variations found in
erbaria are useful for research in plant taxonomy, morphology,
Herbaria
ompilation of floras, monographs and manuals are mainly based on the specimens in herba
erbaria are useful in locating wild varieties and relatives of economically important plants.
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erbaria are useful in locating wild varieties and relatives of economically important plants.
hey help in knowing the morphological variations found in species.
erbaria are useful for research in plant taxonomy, morphology, ecological distribution, etc.

26. otanical Garden
botanical garden has following important
Botanical gardens have aesthetic appeal and provide recreation facility to people
A wide variety of plant species grow there, so they provide ready material for
A wide variety of plant species grow there, so they provide ready material for
research.
These gardens also play an important role in conservation of endangered plant
species and genetic diversity.
There are more than 500 botanical gardens all over the world. These provide free
exchange of seeds.
These improve the environment, provide greenery, help in creating pollution free
environment and some serves as habitat for animals.
botanical garden has following important roles :
gardens have aesthetic appeal and provide recreation facility to people.
wide variety of plant species grow there, so they provide ready material for
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wide variety of plant species grow there, so they provide ready material for
gardens also play an important role in conservation of endangered plant
are more than 500 botanical gardens all over the world. These provide free
improve the environment, provide greenery, help in creating pollution free
environment and some serves as habitat for animals.

27. Museums
Significance of Museums :
 Specimens are preserved for longer duration by placing them in chemical
preservatives.
preservatives.
 Plants like algae, fungi, mosses and ferns, parts of gymnosperms are preserved as
they cannot be maintained in botanical gardens.
 Preserved plants also inform about the habitat, nature of soil and flora of area.
 A catalogue is prepared which helps in future reference and taxonomical studies.
 They provide first hand information about the characters, identification, naming a
classification of the organisms.
Specimens are preserved for longer duration by placing them in chemical
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Plants like algae, fungi, mosses and ferns, parts of gymnosperms are preserved as
they cannot be maintained in botanical gardens.
Preserved plants also inform about the habitat, nature of soil and flora of area.
A catalogue is prepared which helps in future reference and taxonomical studies.
They provide first hand information about the characters, identification, naming a

28. oological Parks
ole of Zoological Parks
) The zoological parks increase understanding of wildlife.
) The zoological parks increase understanding of wildlife.
) These are the centres for recreation and education.
) Zoos are the centres for conservation of threatened and rare animal
ecies.
) These provide sites for ex situ breeding of endangered animals.
nservation through captive breeding of endangered animals.
) The zoological parks increase understanding of wildlife.
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) The zoological parks increase understanding of wildlife.
) These are the centres for recreation and education.
) Zoos are the centres for conservation of threatened and rare animal
) These provide sites for ex situ breeding of endangered animals.
nservation through captive breeding of endangered animals.

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is also a taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and animals based on the similarities and
milarities.
lps in the identification of plants and animals by selecting and eliminating the characters according t
presence or absence in the organism under study.
keys generally use two contrasting characters called couplet. This results in acceptance of one prese
nism and rejection of the other. Each statement in the key is called a lead.
is also a taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and animals based on the similarities and
lps in the identification of plants and animals by selecting and eliminating the characters according t
keys generally use two contrasting characters called couplet. This results in acceptance of one prese
nism and rejection of the other. Each statement in the key is called a lead.
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