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🔬 Biology  ·  Biological Classification  ·  NEET

Which organism causes malaria and belongs to Protista?

Answer: Plasmodium.

  • A Trypanosoma
  • B Plasmodium
  • C Entamoeba
  • D Paramecium

Correct answer: B. Plasmodium

Explanation: Plasmodium is a sporozoan protist that causes malaria. Trypanosoma causes sleeping sickness and Entamoeba causes amoebic dysentery.

Whittaker's Five KingdomsMoneraprokaryotesProtistaunicell. eukaryotesFungichitin wallPlantaecellulose wallAnimaliano wallNOT in any kingdom: Viruses (non-cellular), Viroids (RNA, no coat), Lichens (alga+fungus symbiosis)Classification criteria: cell structure, nutrition mode, body organisation, reproduction, phylogeny

Whittaker's five-kingdom system (1969) groups all cellular life by cell structure and nutrition; viruses, viroids, and lichens fall outside this system entirely since they aren't independently classifiable as one of the five.

Concept context

Whittaker's five kingdom system covering Monera, Protista, Fungi, plus viruses, viroids, and lichens. A foundational NEET chapter on how living organisms are grouped.

Read the full Biological Classification notes →