Chapter 12
Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification
CBSE Class 9
Science Solutions
Educart Science class Class 9 NCERT Exemplar cover
Question:

A scientist discovers a new organism with the characteristic features of locomotion and autotrophic nutrition. Which character(s) would help the scientist identify the organism belonging to Protista according to the five kingdom classification?

Answer: Verified

An organism with both locomotion and autotrophic nutrition could potentially be confused with an animal (which shows locomotion) or a plant (which shows autotrophic nutrition). To classify it under Kingdom Protista, the following additional characters would be decisive:

(1) Unicellular nature: The organism must be unicellular (single-celled). Kingdom Protista comprises only unicellular eukaryotes. If the organism is multicellular, it cannot belong to Protista.

(2) Presence of a well-defined nucleus: The organism must be eukaryotic. This distinguishes it from Kingdom Monera, whose members also include unicellular autotrophs (cyanobacteria) but are prokaryotes.

(3) Ability to switch between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition: A classic Protistan such as, Euglena, can perform photosynthesis in the presence of light but becomes heterotrophic in its absence of light. This dual nutritional mode is a strong indicator of Protista.

(4) Presence of locomotory organelles such as flagella, cilia, or pseudopodia: These are structures associated with protists and help in movement.

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More NCERT Questions
An earthworm (annelida) and a beetle (arthropoda), both have segmented bodies but the beetle has a hard external skeleton. How does the beetle's external skeleton help it survive? [Pg. No. 242] Does the term 'biodiversity' relate only to the variety of organisms, or does it encompass other elements? [Pg. No. 247] Sponges represent one of the simplest animal body plants. Their bodies lack true tissues and organs. Which feature of sponge cells supports its classification under the animal kingdom? (a) Absence of Meena and Hari observed an animal in their garden. Hari called it an insect while Meena said it was an earthworm. Choose the correct option which confirms that it is an insect. (a) Bilateral symmetric