Imagine scientists discover a new organism that is multicellular, eukaryotic. Class 9

Imagine scientists discover a new organism that is multicellular, eukaryotic. Class 9

(vii) Imagine scientists discover a new organism that is multicellular, eukaryotic, lacks chlorophyll and absorbs nutrients from a host externally. Should it be placed under fungi or animalia? Justify your reasoning using classification criteria. Class 9

Answer:

The new organism should most likely be placed under Kingdom Fungi. Justification based on classification criteria: The organism is multicellular - this rules out Kingdom Protista (unicellular eukaryotes) and Kingdom Monera (prokaryotes). It is eukaryotic - it has a membrane-bound nucleus. It lacks chlorophyll - it cannot photosynthesise, so it is not autotrophic. This rules out Kingdom Plantae. It absorbs nutrients from a host externally - this is the key distinguishing criterion.

Fungi obtain nutrition by absorption (absorbing nutrients from the host or from dead/decaying matter through fine filaments called mycelium). In contrast, animals in Kingdom Animalia obtain food by ingestion - they physically take in food and digest it internally. Since this organism absorbs nutrients externally (rather than ingesting them), its mode of nutrition is characteristic of fungi, not animals. Therefore, despite being multicellular and eukaryotic like animals, the external absorption mode of nutrition places it in Kingdom Fungi.