CHAPTER 1THE LIVING VWORLD

|What is Living?
Living organisms exhibit certain distinctive characteristics. Growth, developrment,
reproduction, nnetabolism, ability to sense environment, responsivenesS are unique features of
livingorganisms.
GROWTH

All living organisms grow. Increase in mass and increase in number of individuals are twin
characteristics of growth. Unicellular organisms grow in number by cell division. . Here,
increase in body mass is considered as growth. They grow by cell division, i.e., growth is from
inside.When growth occurs continuously throughout the life span as in plants, it is
indeterminate growth (unlimited growth).When growth occurs only upto a certain age as in
animals, it isdeterminate growth (limitedgrowth). However, celldivision occurs in certain
tissues to replace lost cells.Non-living objects also grow by increase in body mass..
Reproduction is acharacteristic of living organisms. It is the ability of an individual to give rise to
new individual of its own kind. Reproduction may be sexualor asexual. Fungimultiply and
spread easily due to the millions of asexual spores they produce. Lower organisms like yeast
and Hydra, multiply by budding. Planaria (a flatworm), reproduces by regeneration, i.e., a
fragmented organism regenerates the lost part of its body and becomes, a new organism.
There are many organisms which do not reproduce like mules, sterile worker bees, infertile
human couples, etc. Hence, reproduction also cannot be an all-inclusive defining
characteristic of living organisms.
METABOLISM

All living organisms are made of chemicals which are constantly

being made and changed into
some other biomolecules. These conversions are chemical
reactions or metabolic reactions.
Sum total of all chemical reactions occurring in our body is called
metabolism.
Metabolism is of two kinds, anabolism (synthesis off complex substances
from simpler ones or
"constructive metabolism ") and catabolism ("breakdown reactions" or
substances into simpler ones
breaking of complex

All plants, animals, fungi and microbes exhibit

metabolism. No non-living object exhibits
metabolism.

CONSCIOUSNESS
The most obvious and technically complicated
feature of all living organisms istheir ability to
sense their environment and respond to
environmental stimuliwhich could be physical,
chemical or biological. All organisms, from the
can sense and respond tO environmental prokaryotes to the most complex eukaryotes
cues. Plants respond to external factors
water, temperature, other organisms, like light
pollutants, etc
Allorganisms are aware of their
Surroundings. Human being is the only organism
of himself, i.e., has self.
consciousness. Consciousness therefore, becomes the who is aware
property of living organisms. defining
 Living?
What is To
Topic1
for asmall animal to run uphill than 01
01 ltis uch casier becausc INCERT ((0Nd)Pg. 4, NEET 2016|
for alarge animal,
casicr to carry a small body weight
(a) it is metabolic rate
(b) snaller animals havc a higher
w)smallanimals have a lower O, requirement
() thecficicncy of muscles in large animals is less t 2/12
the smallanimals
02 Which one of the following aspects is an exclusive
characteristics of living things?
INCERT (Old) Pg. 5, AIPMT 2011|
(a) lsolated metabolic reactions occur in vitro
(b) Increase in mass from inside only
(o) Perception of events happening in the environment and
their memory
(d) Increase in mass by accumulation of material both on
surface as well as internally
03 Biological organisation starts with
[NCERT (Old) Pg. 5, AIPMT 2007]
(a) sub-microscopic molecular level
(b) cellular level
(c) organismic level
(d) atomic level
04 The living organisms can be un-exceptionally
distinguished from the non-living things on the basis
of their ability for [NCERT (Old) Pg. 5, AIPMT 2007]
(a) responsiveness to touch
(b) interaction with the environment and progressive
evolution
(c) reproduction
(d) growth and movement
05 The most important feature of all living systems is co
[NCERT (Old) Pg. 4, AIPMT 2000)
(a) utilise oxygen to generate cnergy
(b) replicate the genetic information
(c) produce gamets
(d) utilise solar energy for merabolic activities
Diversity in the Living World
There is large varietyof living organisms: plants, insects, birds or other animals and
microorganisms. Each different kind of organism that we see, represents a species. Ihe
number of species that are known anddescribed rangebetween 1.7-1.8 million. This refers to
biodiversity or the number and types of organisms present onearth.
NOMENCLATURE

These millions of plants and animals in the world are known in an area by their local names.
Hence, there is a need to standardise the naming of living organisms such that a particular
organism is known by the same name all over the world. This process is called nomenclature.
Nomenclature or naming is only possible when the organism is described correctly and we
knowto what organism the name is attached to. This is identification. In order to facilitate the
study. ascientific name is assignedto each known organism. This is acceptable to biologists all
Over the world.

Scientific names are based on agreed principles and criteria:

For Plants -International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) For Animals -International
Code of Zoological Nomenclature (|CZN)

Biologists follow universally accepted principles to provide scientific names to known

organisms. Each name has twocomponents - thegeneric name and the specific epithet. This
system of providing a name with twocomponents is called binomial nomenclature. This naming
system given by Carolus Linnaeus is being practised by biologists all
over the world.

The technical names recognised internationally are the ones given by Linnaeus in "Species
Plantarum" (1753) and 10th edition of his book "Systema Naturae"
CLASSIFICATION

Classification is the process by which anything is grouped intO convenient categories based on
some easily observable characters. For example, we easily recognise groups such as plants or
animals or dogs, cats or insects. The moment we use any of these terms, we associate certain
characters with the organism inthat group. The scientific term for these categories is taxa. Taxa
can indicate categories at very different levels. 'Plants'- also form a taxa. "Wheat' is also a taxa.
Similarly, 'animals', 'mammals', 'dogs' are all taxa- but dog is a mammal and mammals are
animals. Therefore, animals", Based on characteristics, all living organisms can be classified
into different taxa. This prOcess of classification is called taxonomy. External and internal
structure, along with the structure ofcell, development process and ecological information of
organisms form the basis of modern taxonomic studies. Characterisation, identification,
classification and nomenclature are the processes that are basic to taxonomy.
'mammals' and 'dogs' represent taxa at different levels.
 Topic 2 Diversity in LÍving World
01 Scle the correvtly written scietilic nae of mabgo
which was first decNwribed by Carolus Iinnacus,
INCNRT (New) I'x. 5, NEET (Nutlonat) 2019)/
(a) Alangiferna indica Linn. (b) Mangfera indica
() Alangifira lndica () Mangilera indica ar. linn.
02 Which of the ollowing is against the rules of ICBN?
INCERT(New) Pg. 4, NEET (Odlsha) 2019)
(a) Handwritten scientific names should be underlined
(b) Every species should have a generic name and aspecific
cpither
(c) Scientific names are in Latin and should be Italicised
(d) Generic and specific names should be written by
starting with small letters
03 Nomenclature is governed by certain universal rules.
Which one of the following is contrary to the rules of
nomenclature? [NCERT (New) Pg. 4, NEET 2016, Phase I]
(a) The first word in a biological name represents the
genus name and the second is a specific epithet
(b) The names are written in Latin and are italicised
(c) When written by hand, the names are to be underlined
(d) Biological names can be written in any language
04 Study the four statements (I-I) given below and
select the two correct ones out of them
[NCERT (Old) Pg 4, 5,6, NEET 2016, Phase I]
I. Definition of biological species was given by Ernst
Mayr.
II. Photoperiod does not affect reproduction in plants.
II. Binomial nomenclature system was given by RH
Whitaker.
IV. In unicellular organisms, reproduction is synonymous
with growth.
The two correct statements are
(a) II and III (b) III and IV
(c) Iand IV (d) Iand II

05 Which one of the following

organisms is scienifically 14 Ani
correc1ly named, correc1ly printed according to the clas
International Rules of Nomencdature and correcdy (a) r
described? (AIPMT 2012) (b)
(a) fusca dometica. The common house (c)
lizard, a reptile
()amodun fakiparum -Aprotozoan paihugen {d)
the most sCis VDe of causng
malaria
 05 Which onc of the following organis1ns
is scientifically 14 An i
correcly namcd, correctly printed according to the clas:
International Rules of Nomenclature and correctly (a) r
described? (AIPMT 2012/ (b)
(a) Musca dometic- The common house lizard, a reptile (c) !
(d)
(h) Plasmodmn fah1pamm Aotozoan pathogen causing,
the tost seious type of malaria
() Frls tig The Indian igct. well protected in Git Topi
tioreus
) oh Full namc ntaocba, a commonly occurringK Topical
. This i
baterim in human intestine
06 ICBN stands for Class
INCERT(New) Pg.4, AIPMT 2007) In pa
(a) lntenational Code for Botanical Nomenclature with
(b) International Congress of Biological Names Tabu
()Indian Code of Botanical Nomenclature this
(d) Indian Congress of Biological Names
07 Biosystematics aims at [AIPMT 20031 01 J
(a) theclassification of organisms based on broad
morphological characters
(b) delimiting various taxa of organisms and establishing
their relationships
(c) the classification of organisms based on their evolutionary
history and establishing their phylogeny on the totality of
various parameters from all fields of studies
(d) identification and arrangement of organisms on the 02
basis of their cytological characteristics
O8 The practical purpose of classification of living
organisms is to [NCERT (New) Pg. 5; AIPMT 1999] 03
(a) explain the origin of living organisms
(b) trace the evolution of living organisms
(c) name the living organisms
(d) facilitate identification of unknown organisms
09 The term "New Systematics" was introduced by
[NCERT (New) Pg. 4; AIPMT 1998]
(a) Bentham and Hooker (b) Linnaeus
() Julian Huxley (d) AP de Candolle
10 Binomial nomenclature consists of two words.
(AIPMT 1994)
(a) Genus and species (b) Order and family
(c) Family and genus (d) Species and variery
11 Binomial nomenclature was introduced by
[NCERT (New) Pg. 4, AIPMT 1994]
(a) de Vries (b) Carolus Linnaeus
(c) Huxley (a) John Ray
12 Linnaeus is credited with (NCERT(New) Pg. 4, AIPMT 1993)
(a) binomial nomenclarure
(b) theory of biogenesis
(c) discovery of microscope
(d) discovery of blood circulation
 Taxonomic Categories
> Classification involves hierarchy of steps in which each step represents a rank or category.
arrangement, it is called the taxonomic
Since the category isa part of overall taxonomic
Category and all categoriestogether constitute thetaxonomic hierarchy. Taxonomical studies

of common categories such as kingdo

of all known organisms have led to the development
phylum or division (for plants), class,order, family, genus and species.
Species
Species is the smalest taxonomic category. Species is agroup of individuals With similar
morphological characters, which are able to breed among themselves and produce their own
kind.

In Mangifera indica (mango), Solanum tuberosum (potato)and Panthera leo (lion), all the three
names indica, tuberosum and leo, represent the specific epithets, whilethe firstwords
Mangifera, Solanum and Panthera are generaand represent another higher level of taxon or
category.
Genus

Genus Comprises a group of related species which has more characters in

common in
CompariSon to species of other genera. For example, potato, tomato and brinjalare
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.
Family
It has a group of related genera with still
less number of similarities as compared to
species. For example, three different genera Solanum, genus and
Petunia and Datura are placed in the
Family Solanaceae. Similarly, genus Panthera, comprising lion, tiger,
genus Felis (cats) in the Family Felidae. Cat leopard is put along with
and dog have some similarities and some
differences. They are separated into two different
families-Felidae and Canidae respectively.
Order

Order 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 The animal
Order Carnivora includes families like
Felidae and Canidae
Class

Thiscategory includes related orders. For

andgibbon is placed in Class Mammalia
example, Order Primatacomprising monkey,
along with Order Carnivora that includes gorilla
tiger, cat and dog. animnals like
Phylum
Classes comprising animals like fishes,
amphibians, reptiles, birds along with mammals
Constitute the next higher category called
Ike presence of notochord and
Phylum. All these, based on the common
dorsal hollow neural system are features
included in Phylum Chordata.
In case of plants, classes with a few similar
characters are assigned to a higher category called
Division.
Kingdom
It is the highest taxonomic category. It includes all organisms that
share a set of distinguishing
commoncharacters. Plants are put in Plant Kingdom while animals are included in
Animal
Kingdom.
 PHbsenT ot noOsNIu

Categorles
Taxonomic
Topic 3
Topical Value NEET.
asked topic
This is the freguenty of this ton
Class lamsy and order are the most lavourite concepts
"
sequence of taxonOmic Categories and organism
" n particular, classification are asked
with their respective taxonomic
Tabulated notes along with mnemonics are efficient tools to orin
.
this topic.

01 In the taxonomic categories, which hierarchical

incase of
arra
arangecnt in ascending order is correct
(NCENT (New) Pg. &, NEET 202),
(a) Kingdom, clas, phylum, family, ordet. genus, specie
(6) Kingdom, order, Bas, phylum, family. genus, species
() Kingdom, ordet. phyBum, cas, family. genus, specia
id) Kingdom, phyBum,clas, ondet, family, genus, spercies
02 Which one of the following belongs to the
Family-Muscidae? (NCERT(New) Pe. 8, NEET 201)
(a) Housetly (b)Firefly (c) Grashopper (d) Cockrosch
03 Match Column I with Column Il for housefly
cdassification and sclect the correct option using the
codes given below. NCERT (New) Pr. &, NEET!12014
Column I Calumn lI
A. Family 6) Dipeta
B, Order fii) Arhropoda
C. Cass fui) Mussilse
D. Phylum (iv) Insecta
Codes
(a) A-(ii), B-(1), C-(iv), D-(i1)
(b) A-(ii). B-ii), C{iv), D-4)
(c) A-(iv), B-(ii), C-(i), D-)
(d) A-(iv). B(), C0), D-(üi)
04 The common characteristics berween tomato and
potato will be maximum at thc level of their NEET 2015!
31 (a) family (b) order ic) division (d) genus
0s Whidh one of the following animals is cotrectly
dwith its
mat
parcuar taxonomic catCgory
(a) Tiger-thigrit, specics (NCERT(Nr) AIPMT 201i!
c (b) Cutrlefish-Mallusca, cdass
Humans-Primza, tamily (d) Housefly-Musca, order
231 o6 Species are considered as
i real bsk units AJPMT 2oe3)
cifs (b) ahe lowet unitsofofclassifcation
(c) artifical concept ofclassifcaion
defined itn human mind which cannot
be
(d) teal unis ofabsolute terms
classification devised by taxonomis

07 What is true for ndividuals of sane species? 11 The tern

(NCKRT 20031
(a) Cuviey
phyium was givcn by
(a) Live in wme niche (b) Live in sne habiat
lc) Jnterbeeoding d) Live in défesent halitat (c) Thoptheatus (b) Harckd
08 Which of the following is less general in characters as 12 A group of
plants of animals with
compared to genus? rank is simslu trauts of any
(a) Speic (6) Division (6) CAas () Family (a) speia (b) gens
(c) order
DS Taxon' is the unit of a group of 13 A taxon is
INCENT (N) P. 4AIPMTIS4 (a) group of rdatcd INCEAT (Ne) e.6, AIPMT I2, Ig
(a) ordei (b) taxonamy (c) pecics (d) genus () a group of related famlo
10 Sequrnce of taxonomic categories is {c) a type of living species
-phylun-rnbe-order- famly senus-specieJAIPMT I92) () a lazonomic gDup organiams
(b) divsion dass-fmily-ibe-ordergenus-species 14 Satic concept of of any caniung
(c) dinuon-das-ordes-fandy-tribe gcnus-sqpecics specic was put forward by
() pbyBun ordet class-uibe-family (a) de Candolle AIMTI9at
genus-1pecies () Theophratus (b) Linnrus
() Darrwin

" Key Index

Topic
1 ()
(b)
Topic 2

11 (b) {a) S
14 (b) 10 (a)
Topic 3
2 (a)
4 (d) 6 (a)
1! (b)
4 (0
Common Biological
TABLEll organisms TRKCUmangoand wiheat belon
with their
Name
Name Genus Taxonomic Categories
Familly Order Class
Man
Hono sapiens Homo Phylum/
Divisíon
Hominidac Primata
Housefly Musca Mammalia
donnestica Musca Chordata
Muscidae
Diptera Insecta
Mango Mangifera Arthropoda
indica Mangifera Anacardiaceae
Sapindales Dlcotyledonae
Wheat Trticum Triticum Angiospermae
Qestuum Poaccae Poales
Monocotyledonae Angiospermae

CHAPTER:1 THE LNG WORLD

Jhe Pising

sas