The Living World Notes
The Living World Notes
The Living World Notes
INTRODUCTION
Biology is the science of life forms and living processes.
The living organisms interact with one another as well as with their physical and chemical
environment.
The term biology was introduced by G. R. Treviranus and Lamarck (1802).
The living organisms occur almost in every habitat on earth.
All living beings share certain unified and basic characteristics. These include organisation, energy
utilization, regulation or homeostasis, growth, development, reproduction and adaptation.
LIFE
Living organisms show a great biodiversity and are classified into different kingdoms-Monera,
Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia. All of these share the following properties -
They have definite organisation.
They always have cellular nature so are either unicellular (e.g., Amoeba, Paramecium etc.) or
multicellular (e.g., Hydra, man etc.).
They show coordination between different parts of body to maintain homeostasis (constant internal
environment) inside the body.
They have the ability of movements and locomotion.
They show metabolic functions in the presence of energy.
They have the ability of growth and development.
They have specific receptors (e.g., sense organs to receive external and internal stimuli) and specific
effectors (e.g., muscles and glands to give specific response).
They have regulatory mechanisms (e.g., nervous system and hormones in animals, and only
hormones in plants) to maintain homeostasis inside the body.
They show adaptations to their environment to increase their chances of survival.
They show variations which help in speciation and evolution.
They have capacity to reproduce for continuity of their race.
They have definite life span (period from birth to death).
They undergo ageing after adulthood and then natural death.
SYSTEMATICS
The term "Systematics" was proposed by Linnaeus in 1735.
It includes description of external morphological characters of plants or living organisms. E.g.,
morphological characters of root, stem, leaves, flowers.
This description is used to know inter-relationship among plants or living organisms.
The term systematics, taxonomy and classification are after held as synonyms but technically they
carry different meanings.
New systematics or Neo systematics or Biosystematics is a new branch. Its name was given by Julian Huxley
(1940).
New systematics includes description of all the characters (internal) including morphological
characters (external) of plants or living organisms. E.g., anatomical characters and cytological
characters. It is used to know the inter-relationship among living organisms.
Carolus Linnaeus is called father of taxonomy.
H. Santapau is called the father of Indian taxonomy.
Taxonomy is of 3 types - α, β and ω :
o In α (alpha) taxonomy, only morphological characters are used for identification and classification of plants.
o β (Beta) taxonomy involves genetical, anatomical, cytological, palynological, physiological and other
characters.
o Analysis and synthesis of all information and types of data to develop classification system based on
phylogenetic relationship is called omega taxonomy.
Identification is to determine the exact place or position of an organism in the set plan of classification. It is
carried out with the help of taxonomic keys.
Classification is the placing of an organism or a group of organisms in category according to a particular
system and in conformity with a nomenclature system.
New systematics is mainly based on evolutionary as well as genetic relationship (experimental
taxonomy) as compared to morphological characters.
Cytotaxonomy : The use of cytological characters of plants in classification or in solving taxonomic problems
is called cytotaxonomy. Cytological characters constitute an important aid to plant taxonomy, especially in
determining affinities at the generic and intrageneric levels.
Chemotaxonomy : The use of chemical compounds present in plants for classification or in solving
taxonomic problems is called chemotaxonomy or chemical taxonomy. It is based on the chemical constitution
of plants. The basic chemical compounds used in chemotaxonomy are alkaloids, carotenoids, tannins,
polysaccharides, nucleic acids, fatty acids, amino acids, aromatic compounds etc.
Karyotaxonomy : It is based on the characters of nucleus and chromosomes. Pattern of chromosomal bands
(dark bands and light bands) is most specific character for classification of organisms.
Taxonomy is the study of principles and procedures of identification, nomenclature and classification
of organisms.
NOMENCLATURE
Nomenclature is giving distinct scientific names to various structures including living organisms for their
identification.
The names are of two types - vernacular (common name) and scientific names.
The vernacular names are based on some peculiarity of the organisms, e.g., Kandali (a plant having
spines).
Scientific names are distinct and specific, they have particular spellings which are not changed.
TYPES OF NOMENCLATURE
Three types of nomenclature are polynomial, binomial and trinomial.
POLYNOMIAL SYSTEM
BINOMIAL SYSTEM
Carolus Linnaeus used this nomenclature system for the first time and proposed scientific name of all the
plants and animals. He is the founder of binomial system.
Linnaeus proposed scientific name of plants in his book "Species plantarum".
In binomial nomenclature, each scientific name has 2 components - generic name (genus) and specific name
(species). E.g., Solanum tuberosum (potato), Mangifera indica (mango)
The name indicates relationship of a species with others present in the same genus.
TRINOMIAL SYSTEM
TAXONOMIC CATEGORIES
There are 7 main taxonomic categories. They are obligate categories i.e., they are strictly used at
the time of any plant classification.
There are some extra categories, like sub division, sub order, sub family, tribe, sub tribe,. etc. They
are not regularly used. They are used only when they are needed.
The sequence of arrangement of ttaxonomic
axonomic categories in a descending order during the
classification of an organisms is called taxonomic hierarchy.
Kingdom is the highest and species is the lowest category in this hierarchy.
Plant groups or animal groups included in categories are called taxon.
Suffix for taxa (Taxon)
Division – phyta
Sub division – phytina
Class – opsida, phyceae, ae
Order – ales
Sub-order – ineae
Family – aceae
Sub family – oideae
Tribe – eae
Sub tribe – inae
SPECIES
TYPOLOGICAL CONCEPT
This concept was proposed by "Aristotle" and "Plato".
According to this concept, "there is a definite type or pattern of characters in each species of every
living organisms and all the members of species show maximum resemblance with this pattern".
(Typological concept is based on single individual of species).
Biotype : Members of same species inhabiting similar environment and having some genetic variations are
known as biotypes. Variations found in these members are permanent. These members cannot interbreed
among themselves.
E.g., Cauliflower, cabbage, knol-khol are three biotypes of one species.
Ecotypes : Members of same species inhabiting different environment and having some genetic variations are
known as ecotypes. Variations are permanent. These members can interbreed among themselves but due to
geographical barrier they cannot interbreed.
E.g., Crow (Corvus splendens) found in different regions are ecotype of one species.
Ecads or Ecophenes : Members of same species having some non genetic variations due to environment is
called Ecads. These variations are temporary.
Definition related to species
Allopatric species : Those species that are found in different geographical regions and have geographical
barriers between them are known as allopatric species. Geographical barriers are hills, oceans, himalayan
mountains.
Sympatric species : The species found in similar geographical regions are sympatric species.
GENUS
Genus is an assembly of related species which involved from a common ancestor and have certain
common characters called correlated characters.
Potato, tomato and brinjal are three different species but all belong to the genus Solanum. Lion
(Panthera leo), leopard (P. pardus) and tiger (P. tigris) with several common features, are all species
of the genus Panthera. This genus differs from another genus Felis which includes cats.
FAMILY
Family, has a group of related genera with still less number of similarities as compared to genus and
species.
Families are characterized on the basis of both vegetative and reproductive features of plant
species.
Three different genera Solanum, Petunia and Datura are placed in the family Solanaceae. Among
animals for example, genus Panthera, comprising lion, tiger, leopard is put along with genus, Felis
(cats) in the family Felidae.
ORDER
Order being a higher category, is the assemblage of families which exhibit a few similar characters.
The similar characters are less in number as compared to different genera included in a family.
Plant families like Convolvulaceae, solanaceae are included in the order polemoniales mainly based
on the floral characters.
The animal order, Carnivora, includes families like Felidae and Cancidae.
CLASS
PHYLUM
Classes comprising animals like fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds along with mammals constitute the next
higher category called phylum. All these based on the common features like presence of notochord and dorsal
hollow neural system, are included in phylum Chordata. In case of plants, classes with a few similar characters
are assigned to a higher category called Division.
KINGDOM
All animals belonging to various phyla are assigned to the highest category called Kingdom Animalia. The
Kingdom Plantae, on the other hand, is distinct, and comprises all plants from various divisions.
BRANCHES OF BIOLOGY
Anatomy - Study of internal structure
Phycology or Algology - Study of Algae
Agrostology - Study of grass
Anthology - Study of flowers
Agronomy - Study of crops plants.
Biochemistry - Study of organic substances, found in living organisms.
Biophysics - Study of importance in metabolic reactions of different physical theories
Bacteriology - Study of bacteria
Bryology - Study of bryophytes
Bio-metrics - Study related to different biotic reactions and their results.
Biotechnology - Study of isolation of protoplasm and their culture
Cytology - Study of structure and functions of cell
Dendrology - Study of tree.
Dendrochronology - Study of age of trees
Embryology - Study of gametes formation, fertilization and formation of embryo
Ecology - Study of inter-relations between living organism and their atmosphere
Evolution - Study of different development process of living organism
Economic botany - Study of plants of economic importance
Exobiology - Study of presence of possible organism on other planet
Euphenics - Study of control of heredity disease
Floriculture - Study of culture of ornamental flowers
Forestry - Study of forests
Genetics - Study of heredity and variations
Gymnology - Study of Gymnosperm
Genetic engineering - Study of manipulation of genes for human welfare.
Histology - Study of structure of tissues .
Horticulture - Study of culture of garden plant, fruits and vegetables
Karyology - Study of nucleus
Morphology - Study of external characters of plants
Mycology - Study of fungi
Microbiology - Study of microorganisms
Molecular Biology - Study of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA)
Oncology - Study of cancer
Physiology - Study of various organ within organisms.
Paleobotany - Study of fossil plants
Pedology - Study of soil
TALLEST
SMALLEST/SHORTEST
LARGEST/BIGGEST/HEAVIEST
IMPORTANT DATES
Anti Leprosy Day - 30th January
Blood Donation Day - 1st October
Doctor's Day - 1st July
Human Rights Day - 10th December (To commemorate the death of Alfred Nobel)
International Day of Biodiversity - 29th December
International Thalassaemia day & World - 8th May
Red. Cross Day - 8th May
Kisan Divas (National Farmer's Day) - 23rd December
National Pollution Prevention Day - 2nd December
Van Mahotsava (Festival of Tree Plantation) - 1st week of February and July
Vigyan Divas (National Science day) - 28 February
World AIDS day - 1st December
World Conservation Day - 3rd December
World Earth day - 22nd April
World Environment Day - 5th June
World Forest Day - 21st March
World Health Day - 7th April
World Literacy Day - 8th September
World Ozone Day - 16th September
World Population Day - 11th July
World Wildlife Week - 1st Monday of October
HUMAN BODY
Largest artery - Abdominal aorta
Largest bone - Femur
Largest heterocrine organ - Alimentary canal
Largest endocrine gland - Thyroid
Largest gland - Liver
Largest salivary gland - Parotid gland
Largest vein - Inferior Vena cava
Least regenerative capacity - Brain
Longest cell in the body - Neuron
Longest cranial nerve - Vagus
Longest nerve of the body - Sciatic
Muscles : Number - 639
Smallest muscle - Stapedius
Largest muscle - Gluteus maximus
Longest muscle - Sartorius