Basis of the five kingdom classification

The idea

The five kingdoms are distinguished by cell type (prokaryote or eukaryote), cell structure (cell wall present or absent), level of organisation (unicellular or multicellular) and mode of nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic).

Questions to ask

Suppose you must place a new living thing into one of five kingdoms. You may ask it a few questions.

How many different kinds of question does the book use for this?

• Four
• One
• Seven

The four criteria

Open each tab.

Two choices for each

Each criterion gives two choices. Together the answers to the four questions help place an organism in one of the five kingdoms.

The five kingdoms are distinguished by cell type (prokaryote or eukaryote), cell structure (cell wall present or absent), level of organisation (unicellular or multicellular) and mode of nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic).

Notes

The five kingdoms are based on cell type, cell structure, level of organisation and mode of nutrition.

Check yourself

Prokaryote or eukaryote is which criterion?

Presence or absence of a cell wall is which criterion?

Unicellular or multicellular is which criterion?

Autotrophic or heterotrophic is which criterion?

• Mode of nutrition. Mode of nutrition is autotrophic or heterotrophic.
• Level of organisation. Level of organisation is unicellular or multicellular.
• Cell type — correct. Yes!
• Cell structure — correct. Yes!
• Cell type. Cell type means prokaryote or eukaryote.
• Level of organisation. Level of organisation means unicellular or multicellular.
• Cell structure. Cell structure is about the presence or absence of a cell wall.
• Level of organisation — correct. Yes!
• Mode of nutrition. Mode of nutrition means autotrophic or heterotrophic.
• Cell type. Cell type means prokaryote or eukaryote.
• Cell structure. Cell structure is about the presence or absence of a cell wall.
• Mode of nutrition — correct. Yes!