Question

Merits and demerits of whittakers classification

Answer 1

R.H. Whittaker was responsible for the 5 kingdom classification.

Merits:

• This system is accepted everywhere due to the phylogenetic placing of different groups of living organisms scientifically.
• The prokaryotes are placed in an individual kingdom.
• Fungi are placed in a separate kingdom due to its characteristics.
• The evolution is clearly explained with more information from  cellular organization, characteristics and modes of nutrition.  
• Kingdom protista contained all unicellular eukaryotes.

Demerits:

• The higher kingdoms does not include a single ancestor.
• Viruses are not properly classified.
• The kingdom protista was not classified properly as it contained different organisms with a cell wall and also without a cell wall.

Answer 2

Answer: R.H Whittaker has used five criteria for classification of different kingdoms.

Explanation:

Merits.

. The five kingdom classification is based on levels of organisations and nutrition which evolved very early and became established in later groups.

. It has tried to bring out phylogenetic relationships even amongst the primitive forms.

. In this classification, animal and plant kingdoms are more homogeneous.

DEMERITS

. Viruses have not been included in this system of classification.

. Mycoplasma are quite different from bacteria where they have been placed along with prokaryotes.

. Archaebacteria differ from other bacteria in structure , composition and physiology.