Classification of Living Things: Definition, Purpose, Taxon and Classification System

Classification of Living Things: Definition, Purpose, Taxon and Classification System – To more easily recognize the grouping of living things, a classification is needed. On this occasion About the knowledge.co.id will discuss the classification of living things and the things that surround them. Let's look at the discussion together in the article below to better understand it.

Classification of Living Things: Definition, Purpose, Taxon and Classification System

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Classification is a way of grouping and categorizing based on certain characteristics. All biologists use a classification system to group plants or animals that have structural similarities. Then each group of plants or animals is paired with other groups of plants or animals that have similarities in other categories.

The classification of living things was first proposed by John Ray who came from England. However, the idea was refined by Carl Von Linne (1707-1778), a Swedish botanist known today as Carolus Linnaeus. Classification of living things is a way of sorting and grouping living things into certain groups or units. These groups are arranged sequentially according to their level (hierarchy), that is, starting from the smaller level to the larger level.

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Purpose of Classification of Living Things

Classification can serve as a tool for studying biodiversity. The purpose of the classification is as follows:

• Describe the characteristics of living things to distinguish each type, so that they are easily recognized.
• Grouping living things based on the characteristics they have in common.
• Know the kinship relationships between living things.
• Study the evolution of living things on the basis of their kinship.
• Knowing the characteristics of a type of living thing to distinguish it from living things of other types.
• Give the name of a living creature whose name is unknown or does not yet have a name.
• Makes it easier to recognize, compare, and study living things

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Taxon and Order

The science that studies the principles and ways of grouping living things into groups is called taxonomy or systematics. The principle and way of classifying living things according to taxonomy is to form a taxon. The taxon is formed by observing the objects or living things under study by looking for observable similarities and differences.

Mencandra means identifying, describing, and naming. Furthermore, living things that have similar characteristics are grouped into a group called a taxon. In this way many taxa can be formed. The order of the taxon is based on the most common feature similarities, then the further down the equation the more specific the features and the fewer the differences in features.

• Plant Classification Criteria

Experts classify plants by paying attention to several determining criteria and are always considered.

• • Organs of reproduction, whether by spores or by flowers.
  • Habitus, whether in the form of trees, shrubs or shrubs.
  • Leaf shape and size.
  • How to reproduce, whether by sexual (generative) or asexual (vegetative).

• Animal Classification Criteria

Similar to the classification of plants, in classifying animals, experts also classify by looking at the following criteria.

• • Food digestive tract. Lower animals do not yet have a digestive tract for food. Higher animals have mouth openings, digestive tract, and anus.
  • Skeleton, whether the skeleton is outside the body (exoskeleton) or inside the body (endoskeleton).
    Limbs, whether bipedal, quadrupedal, or legless.

A taxon is a group of living things whose members share many characteristics in common. Then, each taxon is placed in its place (position) according to its level. The taxon formation steps follow a certain system. That is why the taxonomy is also called systematic. The following is the order of the taxon:

• Order of animal taxon:

1. 1. kingdom (kingdom)
   2. phylum (phylum)
   3. class (classis)
   4. order (nation)
   5. family (tribe)
   6. genus (surname)
   7. species (type)

• Order of Plant Taxon:

1. 1. kingdom (kingdom)
   2. division (division)
   3. class (classis)
   4. order (nation)
   5. family (tribe)
   6. genus (surname)
   7. species (type)

From the levels above, it can be concluded that from species to kingdom, the higher the taxon. In addition, if the taxon is higher, the number of organisms will increase, the similarities between organisms will be less, while the differences will be greater. Conversely, from kingdom to species, the taxon is getting lower. And if the taxon is lower, then the number of organisms will be less, the similarities between organisms will be more and more, while the differences will be less.

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Classification System of Living Things

Classification System 2 Kingdoms

Here organisms are grouped into 2 major worlds, namely the plant world (Kingdom Plantae) and the animal world (Kingdom Animalia).

• The Plant World (Kingdom Plantae)
  • The plant world includes living things that have cell walls made of cellulose and chlorophyll so they can carry out photosynthesis.
  • Examples: Algae, mosses, ferns. Plus bacteria and fungi even though they don't have chlorophyll.
• Animal World (Kingdom Animalia)
  • The animal world has no cell walls, no chlorophyll, and can move freely.
  • Examples: porous animals (Porifera), worms (Vermes), hollow animals (Coelenterata), single-celled animals (Protozoa), soft animals (Mollusca), and vertebrates (Chordata).

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3 Kingdom Classification System

This classification separates the fungi which in the 2nd kingdom classification enter the plant world. Mushrooms are distinguished because the cell walls of fungi are not composed of cellulose material like plant cell walls but are made of chitin.

Fungi also cannot make their own food (Hererotrophs) like plants.

• World Fungi (Kingdom Fungi), Includes all organisms that get food heterotrophically by absorbing food (Absorption). Mushrooms obtain food from other living things (Parasites) or by absorbing it from living things that have died (Saprophytes).
  • The characteristics of the fungus are:
  • eukaryotes,
  • Multicellular
  • The cell wall is made of chitin.
  • The members of this kingdom lack photosynthetic pigments and are therefore heterotrophic.
• The Plant World, Includes all organisms that can make their own food (Autotrophs) by going through photosynthesis.
  • The characteristics of the plant kingdom are:
  • Eukaryotic
  • Multicellular
  • Cell wall made of cellulose.
  • Members of the Plantae group contain photosynthetic pigments and obtain their energy through it and are therefore autotrophic.
• Animal World, Includes all organisms that obtain their food heterotrophically by eating other organisms.

4 Kingdom Classification System

This system developed after the discovery of the cell nucleus (nucleus). There are organisms whose cell nucleus does not have a membrane, there are also organisms whose cell nucleus is covered with a membrane.

• Kingdom Monera, Members of the kingdom Monera all do not have a nucleus membrane, for that reason they are called prokaryotic organisms. Examples: bacteria and blue-green algae.
• Kingdom Fungi, All types of fungi are included in the kingdom fungi
• Kingdom Plantae All algae (except blue-green algae), ferns, mosses and seed plants belong to this kingdom.
• 4. Kingdom Animalia, All animals from Protozoa to Chordata belong to the kingdom Animalia.

5 Kingdom Classification System

Whittaker proposed the classification of living things into 5 kingdoms, namely Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia because of advances in science and technology.

In this system the algae were previously included in the kingdom Plantae, as well as the former Protozoa included in the kingdom Animalia and then grouped into one kingdom, namely Kingdom Protist.

• Kingdom Monera

Consists of bacteria and blue-green algae. Seen under a microscope, most bacteria appear to have the same size and shape.

But through molecular biology evidence found differences in ribosomal RNA. So that microbiologists distinguish bacteria into eubacteria and archaebacteria.

Eubacteria are a group of bacteria that produce methane gas from simple carbon sources and live in ordinary environments
Archaebacteria are a group of bacteria that can live in extreme environments, for example in hot springs, in seas with high salt levels, or in acidic places.

• Kingdom Protista

Consists of organisms that have a nucleus membrane and are single-celled and can be found anywhere. Protists are grouped into three, namely plant-like protists (algae), and mushroom-like protists, animal-like protists (Protozoa),.

Characteristics: Almost all protists live in water because they do not have a protective barrier that can keep their bodies from drying out.

• Kingdom Fungi

Usually multi-celled, has a nuclear membrane as well as a role as a decomposer in the environment. Fungi obtain food by means of saprophytes or parasites.

• Kingdom Plantae

An organism that has a nuclear membrane that can make its own food and is multicelled. Usually this kingdom lives on land. How to breed can be married and not married.

• Kingdom Animalia

An organism that eats other living things for its food needs. Animal cells do not have a cell wall.

6 Kingdom Classification System

• The classification system described above does not include viruses in their classification. The body of the virus is composed of nucleic acid which is covered by protein.
• Outside of living cells, viruses are inanimate objects. Viruses can only live and reproduce in their host's living cells.
• The 6 kingdom classification system is a 5 kingdom classification system plus the Virus kingdom.

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