A researcher identified a unicellular eukaryotic organism as fungi. Class 9

A researcher identified a unicellular eukaryotic organism as fungi. Class 9

Question 1.

A researcher identified a unicellular eukaryotic organism as fungi. What identification key would you suggest according to the five kingdom classification to keep a unicellular organism in the Kingdom Fungi? Class 9

Answer:

According to the five kingdom classification, to keep a unicellular organism in Kingdom Fungi, the following identification key (criteria) must be met: The organism must be eukaryotic - it must have a membrane-bound (true) nucleus. This distinguishes it from Monera. The cell wall must be made of chitin - this is the most important distinguishing feature of fungi. Unlike plants (whose cell walls are made of cellulose) and protists (which may not have a cell wall or have cellulose walls), fungi have chitin cell walls.

The mode of nutrition must be heterotrophic by absorption - fungi obtain nutrients by absorbing them from dead or decaying matter (saprophytic) or from a host (parasitic or symbiotic). They do not photosynthesise. Yeast is an example of a unicellular organism that fits all these criteria and is therefore placed in Kingdom Fungi - it is eukaryotic, has a chitin cell wall, and is heterotrophic by absorption.