Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biological Classification

Question:

What was the limitation of the Two Kingdom system proposed by Linnaeus?

Options:

It did not distinguish between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

It excluded plants and animals from classification.

It included unicellular and multicellular organisms in separate kingdoms.

None of these

Correct Answer:

It did not distinguish between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1): It did not distinguish between eukaryotes and prokaryotes.

The Two Kingdom system devised by Linnaeus categorized all living organisms into two major kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia. While this system was an essential step forward in organizing the vast diversity of life forms, it lacked differentiation between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.

Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells contain membrane-bound organelles like a nucleus, while prokaryotes lack a true nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

In Linnaeus' time a Two Kingdom system of classification with Plantae and Animalia kingdoms was developed that included all plants and animals respectively. This system did not distinguish between the eukaryotes and prokaryotes, unicellular and multicellular organisms and photosynthetic (green algae) and non-photosynthetic (fungi) organisms.

Classification of organisms into plants and animals was easily done and was easy to understand, but, a large number of organisms did not fall into either category. Hence the two kingdom classification used for a long time was found inadequate. Besides, gross morphology a need was also felt for including other characteristics like cell structure, nature of wall, mode of nutrition, habitat, methods of reproduction, evolutionary relationships, etc. Classification systems for the living organisms have hence, undergone several changes over the time.