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3. Biodiversity eLearn.Punjab

How can you divide the five Kingdoms into two groups on the basis of types of cells?

(a) Kingdom monera including organism with prokaryotic cells and
(b) Kingdom protista, fungi,plantae and animalia include organisms with eukaryotic cells

Table 3.2: Distinguishing characteristics of the five kingdoms of life

Kingdom Cell Type Nuclear Cell Wall Mode of Nutrition Multi-
Monera Envelope Cellularity

Protista Prokaryotic Absent Non-cellulose Autotroph Absent
Fungi (polysaccharide
Plantae plus amino Absent in most
Animalia acids) or heterotroph forms
Present in most
Present in some Photosynthetic or forms
Present in all
Eukaryotic Present forms, various heterotroph, or forms
Eukaryotic Present Present in all
Eukaryotic Present types combination forms
Eukaryotic Present
Chitin Absorptive
heterotroph

Cellulose and Photosynthetic
other
polysaccharides Ingestive
Absent heterotroph

Status of Viruses

Viruses are at the borderline of living and nonliving. Due to their crystalline nature, they are
considered as non-living. They are acellular i.e. they do not have cellular organization yet show
some characters of living organisms (e.g. they possess DNA). Viruses contain either RNA or DNA,
normally encased in protein coat. They reproduce only in living cells, where they cause a number
of diseases. They are not considered as organisms and thus are not included in the five-kingdom
classification system. Prions and viroids are also acellular particles and are not included in the five-
kingdom classification system.
Prions and viroids are also acellular particles and are not included in the five-kingdome
classification system

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