Question

State the merits of Whittaker's method of classification.

Answer 1

Hint: Classification is the way to organize the organisms present on earth in order to make the understanding easier and convenient. The Whittaker's classification is also known as the five-kingdom classification.

Complete answer:
In 1969, the five-kingdom classification was proposed by R. H. Whittaker based on 5 different characters of organisms that include the mode of nutrition, structure of the cell, phylogenetic relationship, body organization, and reproduction.

Additional Information: -It is the most accepted modern system of classification due to the phylogenetic placing of different living organisms.
-Many of the unicellular eukaryotes were grouped under the kingdom Protista of this system which was an issue earlier.
-More information about evolution can be well understood through certain characteristics, modes of nutrition, and cellular organization.
-In this system, the separation of prokaryotes into an independent kingdom is justifiable.
-Due to the difference in the characteristics of fungi, they are placed in a separate kingdom called kingdom Fungi.
Whittaker proposed an elaborate five kingdom classification. These five kingdoms are:
Monera – These organisms are prokaryotic and unicellular. The organisms belonging to monera do not have a well-defined nucleus and also lack cell organelles.
Protista – these organisms are all unicellular, but eukaryotic organisms. They are the simplest forms of eukaryotes that exhibit either autotrophic or heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
Fungi – They are heterotrophic, multicellular, and eukaryotic organisms. The mode of nutrition in fungi is found to be saprophytic because they use the dead and decaying organic matter as food.
Plantae – They are eukaryotic, multicellular organisms with a cell wall that is made up of cellulose.
Animalia – They are multicellular, eukaryotic, without the presence of a cell wall.

Note: The main advantage of the five-kingdom classification is that the unicellular and multicellular organisms are kept separately while the disadvantage is that there is diversity in the kingdom Protista and dissimilar organisms should not be kept in the same group.