The document outlines R.H. Whittaker's five kingdom system of classification, which divides organisms into Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia based on cell structure, body organization, nutrition, and phylogeny. Key points include that Monera includes prokaryotes, Protista includes unicellular eukaryotes, Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes, Plantae are multicellular autotrophs, and Animalia includes invertebrate and vertebrate animals. The system helped group once inconsistent classifications but also had limitations due to diversity within kingdoms.

1. THE FIVE KINGDOM SYSTEM
PRESENTED BY-
Syeda Tamanna Yasmin (DU2017MSC0130)
M.Sc. Microbiology 2nd semester

2. DEFINITION OF KINGDOM
• In biology, kingdom is a taxonomic rank that is
composed of smaller groups called phyla
(or divisions, in plants).
• Historically, kingdom is the highest taxonomic
rank, or the most general taxon used in
classifying organisms.

3. BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS
• Biological classification of plants and animals was first
proposed by Aristotle on the basis of simple
morphological characters.
• Linnaeus (1758) later classified all living organisms
into two kingdoms – Plantae and Animalia.
• E. haeckal (1866) suggested that the inconsistencies
of two kingdom system could be avoid by recognition of
third kingdom and he proposed Protista.
• Copeland (1959) came forward with a four kingdom
system to accommodate lower protists i.e. Monera.

4. •R.H.Whittaker proposed an elaborate five kingdom
classification – Monera, Protista, Fungi,
Plantae and Animalia.
•The main criteria of the five kingdom classification were
cell structure, body organisation, mode of nutrition and
reproduction, and phylogenetic relationships .
•He retained bacteria and cyanobacteria under kingdom
Monera ,retained microalgae ,protozoa and slime moulds
under kingdom protista.
•He separated fungi completely.

9. BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION INCLUDES:
• Kingdom Monera
• Kingdom Protista
• Kingdom Fungi
• Kingdom Plantae
• Kingdom Animalia
AT PRESENT,
• Viruses, Viroids and Lichens

11. KINGDOM MONERA
• Archaebacteria, bacteria and cyanobacteria.
• Prokaryotes
• Unicellular
• They are the most abundant micro-organisms and live
in extreme habitats.
• Some of them have cell walls [bacteria] while some
do not [mycoplasma].
• Autotrophic
• Heterotrophic.
• Parasites.
• Lack cell organelles.

12. KINGDOM PROTISTA
• Single-celled eukaryotes
• It form a link that deals with plants, animals and
fungi.
• Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids,
Slime moulds and Protozoans.
• Examples are unicellular algae,
diatoms and protozoans.
• Autotrophic or heterotrophic.
• Primarily aquatic. Some have flagella or cilia that
helps in movement.
• It possess cell organelles.
• Asexually and sexually by a process involving cell
fusion and zygote formation.

13. KINGDOM FUNGI
• Heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms.
• Saprophytes.
• Parasites.
• They are ubiquitous.
• Internuclear division.
• lichens.
• Mycorrhiza.
• Glycogen.

14. KINGDOM PLANTAE
• Most important.
• Multicellular eukaryotes
• Cellulose .
• More than 300,000 species.
• Autotrophs- contains chlorophyll
• Insectivorous plants or parasites.
• True nucleus.
• Plantae includes Bryophytes, Pteridophytes,
gymnosperms and angiosperms.
• Food reserve is usually starch and fat.
• Non-motile
• Growth is usually infinite.
• Sexual and asexual mode of reproduction.

15. KINGDOM ANIMALIA
• Invertebrate and vertebrate animals,.
• Multicellular eukaryotes without cell walls.
• Heterotrophs.
• Glycogen or fat .
• Motile.
• About 36 phyla
• Definite shape and size.
• Higher forms show elaborate sensory and neuromotor
mechanism. Most of them are capable of locomotion.
• The sexual reproduction is by copulation of male
and female followed by embryological development.

16. Viruses, Viroids and Lichens
• In the five kingdom classification of Whittaker there
is no mention of some acellular organisms
: viruses and viroids, and lichens.
VIRUSES
• Not truly living.
• non-cellular.
• obligate parasites.
• The name virus that means venom or poisonous
fluid was given by Pasteur.
• contain genetic material.
• Viruses cause diseases.

17. VIROIDS
• Viroids are infectious agents that are smaller than
viruses.
• A viroid was found to be a free RNA; it lacked
the protein coat that is found in viruses, hence
the name VIROID.
LICHENS
• Lichens are symbiotic associations.
• The algal component is known as phycobiont and
fungal component as mycobiont.
• Lichens are very good pollution indicator.

18. Merits of R. H. Whittaker 5 Kingdom Classification
• It is largely the most accepted system of modern class.
• Separation of prokaryotes into an independent kingdom is
justifiable.
• Grouping of all unicellular eukaryotes under the kingdom
Protista has solved many problems, particularly related to the
position of organisms like Euglena.
• Elevation of the group fungi to the status of a kingdom is
justifiable.
• The kingdoms plantae and animalia are now more
homogeneous groups than they were in the two kingdom
classification as it shows the phylogeny of different life styles.
• The five-kingdom classification gives a clear indication of
cellular organization and modes of nutrition, the characters
which appeared very early in the evolution of life.

19. Demerits of R. H. Whittaker 5 Kingdom Classification
• The kingdoms Monera and Protista include diverse,
heterogeneous forms of life. In both the kingdoms there
are photosynthetic (autotrophic) as well as non-
photosynthetic (heterotrophic) organisms.
• None of the three higher kingdoms include a single
ancestor of all its forms.
• Multicellular lines have originated from protistants
several times.
• Unicellular green algae like Volvox and Chlamydomonas
have not been included under Protista because of their
resemblance to other green algae.
• Slime moulds differ totally from other members of
Protista in their general organization.
• Viruses have not been given proper place in this system
of classification.