Chapter 1: The Living World

Biology • Class 11

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Chapter Analysis

Intermediate12 pages • English

Quick Summary

The chapter 'The Living World' explores the immense diversity within the biological world, focusing on the principles and processes involved in taxonomy. It discusses how living organisms are classified into hierarchical categories based on shared characteristics. Binomial nomenclature is highlighted as the system used for scientifically naming organisms. The chapter emphasizes the significance of taxonomy for agriculture, forestry, and understanding biodiversity, providing foundational knowledge about classification and the evolutionary relationships among species.

Key Topics

  • Diversity in the living world
  • Taxonomic categories
  • Binomial nomenclature
  • Species identification and classification
  • Taxonomic hierarchy and its significance
  • Role of taxonomy in biodiversity conservation

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the concept of biodiversity and its significance
  • Learn the principles of classification and taxonomy
  • Comprehend the system of binomial nomenclature
  • Recognize the importance of standardizing organism names
  • Explore the hierarchical system of taxonomic categories
  • Assess the role of taxonomy in ecological and conservation studies

Questions in Chapter

Why are living organisms classified?

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Why are the classification systems changing every now and then?

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What different criteria would you choose to classify people that you meet often?

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What do we learn from identification of individuals and populations?

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Identify the correctly written scientific name of Mango.

Page 9

Define a taxon.

Page 9

Can you identify the correct sequence of taxonomical categories?

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Try to collect all the currently accepted meanings for the word ‘species’.

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Define and understand the following terms: (i) Phylum (ii) Class (iii) Family (iv) Order (v) Genus

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Illustrate the taxonomical hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal.

Page 9

Additional Practice Questions

Explain the importance of binomial nomenclature in taxonomy.

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Answer: Binomial nomenclature provides a standardized method of naming species, ensuring that each species has a unique two-part scientific name. This system helps in avoiding confusion and facilitates global communication and identification among biologists.

Discuss how taxonomy aids in biodiversity conservation.

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Answer: Taxonomy aids in biodiversity conservation by classifying and identifying species, which helps in understanding their roles in ecosystems and the impact of environmental changes. Accurate classification is essential for the effective management and protection of endangered species.

What is the role of species classification in ecological studies?

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Answer: Species classification helps ecologists understand the relationships and interactions between different organisms within ecosystems. It facilitates studies on ecosystem structure, function, and the effects of human activities on biodiversity.

Explain the term 'taxonomic hierarchy' with an example.

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Answer: Taxonomic hierarchy is a system of arranging various biological taxa in a successive order of ranks. For example, the hierarchy for human beings is: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Homo, Species Homo sapiens.

Why is it necessary to have international codes for classification and nomenclature?

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Answer: International codes for classification and nomenclature are necessary to maintain consistency, avoid duplication, and ensure that each organism has a unique, universally accepted name. These codes facilitate clear scientific communication across different languages and regions.

NCERT Exemplar

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Practice with NCERT Exemplar problems and solutions for this chapter. Exemplar problems are designed to help you master the concepts with advanced-level questions.

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