Question Video: Recalling When Whittaker and Linnaeus Created Their Systems of Classification Biology • First Year of Secondary School

Video Transcript

Which of the following statements about Whittaker’s and Linnaeus’s systems of classification is correct? (A) Whittaker classified organisms into two kingdoms around 300 BCE, whereas Linnaeus classified organisms into five kingdoms around AD 1,700. (B) Whittaker classified organisms into five kingdoms over 400 years before Linnaeus classified them into two kingdoms. (C) Linnaeus classified organisms into two kingdoms over 200 years before Whittaker classified them into five kingdoms. (D) Linnaeus and Whittaker came up with their systems of classification around the same time.

This question is asking us about the timing of Linnaeus’s and Whitaker’s systems of classification for organisms. In the 18th century, Linnaeus classified life into two kingdoms. The first was plants, or Regnum Vegetabile, and animals, or Regnum Animale. In 1975, Robert Whittaker developed his five-kingdom system of classification. This divided life into Protista, Fungi, Monera, Plantae, and Animalia.

Now let’s take a look at the answers. We know that answer choice (D), Linnaeus and Whittaker came up with their systems of classification around the same time, must be incorrect. We can also eliminate answer choice (A) because these timings are way off. These scientists developed their models in modern times and not in ancient times.

Now let’s look at answer choices (B) and (C). Simple subtraction between the two publication dates of their models gives us a 240-year difference. Therefore, answer choice (B) is incorrect, and answer choice (C) is correct. Linnaeus classified organisms into two kingdoms over 200 years before Whittaker classified them into five kingdoms.