Question

As we go from higher species to kingdom, the number of common characterstic goes on (a) Increasing (b) Decreasing (c) Remains same (d) None of these

Short answer

The correct answer is (b) Decreasing.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Biological Classification

In the system of biological classification, organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics. Starting from species, which is the most specific, we move up to kingdom, which is the most general. Species within the same group share more characteristics with each other than they do with those in different groups.

Analyzing the Change in Common Characteristics

As we move from species to kingdom, the number of shared characteristics tends to decrease. The reason is, as we climb the classification ladder from species to kingdom, the group becomes larger and more diverse, and the members of the group share fewer common characteristics.

Answer Determination

Based on the above analysis, as we go from higher species to kingdom, the number of common characteristics decreases.

Key concepts

Species

In biological classification, a species represents the most specific level of classification. Think of species as the final stop in the classification train, where each stop brings the organisms closer together in terms of shared traits.
Species are the basic unit used to organize living beings into categories that are very similar to each other.
Organisms within the same species are so alike, they can often reproduce with each other. Here are some important points about species:

• Species is the level where organisms have the most in common. They share a lot of genetic material, which means many similar characteristics.
• A species consists of individuals that resemble each other very closely, more so than members of any higher taxonomic group.
• Within a species, individuals can usually breed and produce fertile offspring.

For example, all dogs are part of the same species, Canis lupus familiaris. Despite differences like size and color among breeds, they can all interbreed, making them one species.

Kingdom

Moving from species up to kingdom represents the journey towards a broader biological classification. "Kingdom" is the most general classification level in this context, making it the opposite of species, the narrowest. Features of kingdom include:

• It's the broadest conventional category, encompassing all forms of life on Earth.
• Organisms in a kingdom share only a few basic characteristics compared to lower levels of classification.
• Examples of kingdoms include Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), and Fungi.

In the kingdom classification, the similarities are minimal. For instance, while both plants and humans are living organisms, they belong to separate kingdoms due to vastly different characteristics. The classification into kingdoms helps in understanding very general biological categories.

Shared Characteristics

Shared characteristics refer to traits that organisms have in common. The hierarchical system of classification, from kingdom to species, is based on those characteristics.
As you move higher in the hierarchy (species to kingdom), the count of shared characteristics decreases. Here is why shared characteristics are important:

• They decide how and where an organism fits within the classification system. More shared traits mean a closer relationship.
• The more specific the classification (like species), the more shared characteristics the organisms possess.
• As you go to higher classification levels such as kingdom, these shared traits become fewer, due to increased diversity.

Understanding shared characteristics helps make sense of how organisms are related within the vast tree of life. For example, a tiger and a lion share more characteristics as they are closer in classification (same genus) than they do with an oak tree (different kingdom) which has very little in common with them besides being a living organism.