Give an account of history of organism classification.

Question

Give an account of the history of organism classification.

Answer 1

It is believed that the idea of classification of the living beings started with the human civilization. Initial classifications were not scientific but were based on our general conceptions and the usefulness of the organisms was the basis of classification. According to an ancient system, the animals were divided into five groups viz.

1. Domestic animals
2. Wild animals
3. Creeping animals
4. Flying animals and
5. Marine animals.

Aristotle (384-322 BC) was the first to classify the organisms scientifically. He was first to divide the organisms into two groups (i) Plant & (ii) Animals. The animals were further classified on the basis of presence or absence of RBC into two groups viz. (a) Aniama absence of RBC and (b) Eniama – Presence of RBC.

The plants were divided on the basis of morphology as trees, bushes and herbs.Sweden scientist Carolus Linnaeus (18th century) classified plants and animals into two kingdom viz.- (i) Kingdom – Plantae and (ii) Kingdom – Animalia. It is popular as two kingdom classification. However, this system failed to differentiate eukaryotes, prokaryotes, unicellular & multiceullar, algae & fungi etc. The classification systems putforth during 19th century were based on morphology, anatomy and geographical distribution of the organisms. Such characters are important even today.