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The Living World Notes for NEET Class 11 Biology

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Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 Notes for NEET - The Living World - PDF Free Download

The Living World is like the backbone of Biology. It's super important for understanding everything about life. If you are studying for living NEET, the big medical entrance exam, you really need to know this stuff. Basically, it's all about cells - the tiny building blocks of life - and the incredible variety of living things on Earth. Biologists study everything from tiny bacteria to giant trees, trying to figure out how they all fit together.


Class 11 biology chapter 1 notes for NEET is like a door that opens up to a whole world of knowledge. It teaches you about how life works, how living things interact with each other and their environment, and how they change over time. By learning about this stuff, you get a really deep understanding of how life survives on our planet.


Plus in the living world notes for NEET you will also learn about how scientists classify and name different living things. It's like giving you a map to navigate through the huge field of biology. 


Note: 👉Get a Head Start on Your Medical Career with the NEET Rank and College Predictor 2025.


What is the Living World?

It comprises diverse organisms which can be found in almost all kinds of habitats including – mountains, forests, oceans, deserts, freshwater bodies, etc. Each living organism tends to share features like growth, maintenance of homeostasis, reproduction, use of energy, adaption, etc.

  

These features help to distinguish between different species and also come in handy in establishing a link between organisms with a common genetic component.


Features of Living World

  • Growth: The increase in cells’ number and mass through cell division.

  • Tactile sense: It is the ability to sense the environment.

  • Metabolism: A series of biochemical reactions occurring in the body to form and change chemical composition.

  • Reproduction: The process of producing offspring and continuing the progeny.

  • Cellular Organisation: The very defining characteristics of all living organisms.

  • Consciousness:  The sense of being aware of one’s surroundings, actions and intentions.

 

Notably, protoplasm also tends to show all of these characteristics. As a result, it is called the physical basis of life. 


Learn about each of these features in detail by referring to the latest the living world notes for NEET which are available online. The living world short notes for NEET will help you understand the key points quite effectively. 


Biodiversity 

Diversity in the living world or biodiversity can be described as the total number of living organisms which are found on this earth. Such entities are classified with the help of specific terms like –

  1. Nomenclature

  2. Classification

  3. Taxonomy

  4. Systematics


Nomenclature

It is a process wherein scientific names are rendered to organisms for identification. There are 3 types of nomenclature –

  1. Binomial nomenclature

  2. Polynomial nomenclature

  3. Trinomial nomenclature


The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature’s Rules For Nomenclature Are: 

  • The name of a specific will consists of two words– the first will be the genus, and the last will be the specific epithet.

  • In the case of plants, generic and specific names cannot be the same, but for animals, it will be deemed valid.

  • The first letter of the genus will be in a capital letter while the specific term will be in small letters. 

  • For instance - Azadirachta indica.Names should be in Latin or Latinised.

  • When recorded manually, the names should be underlined independently. In case of print, it must be registered in italics.


Taxonomic Category

It is a process which is responsible for identification, name-giving and categorisation of organisms as per their cell structure, advancement process and other biological data.

Notably, these categories depict rank in a hierarchical arrangement in ascending order, and there are 7 of such mandatory categories –


In short, the order is as follows: Kingdom > Division > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.


Category

Description

Kingdom

Comprises different species of fauna and division of fauna.

Phylum 

Comprises a collection of similar classes.

Class

A subdivision within phylum and may comprise more than one order.

Order

Assembles one or more similar families.

Family

A grouping of similar genera which are characterised based on their vegetative and reproductive features.

Genus

Assembles similar species originating from a common ancestor with correlated characters.

Species

A unit of classification of a group which is similar in shape and reproductive features.


An example of the taxonomic description of man – 

Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primata Hominidae Homo Sapiens


Taxonomy Aids

Taxonomic guides or aids are tools and methods used to help us identify and classify different living things.


1. Herbarium: It's like a library for dried plant samples. The plants are pressed and stored on sheets with information about their name, when and where they were found, and who collected them.


2. Museums: These are places where we keep preserved samples of plants and animals for study. Sometimes, they're dried, and other times, they're preserved in special liquids. Museums can also have skeletons of animals.


3. Zoological Parks: These are places where wild animals are kept in safe environments. They help us learn about animal behavior and how they survive in their natural habitats.


4. Botanical Gardens: These are like living collections of plants. Each plant is labeled with its scientific name and family name, so we can learn about them.


5. Key: A key is like a guidebook that helps us identify plants and animals based on their similarities and differences.

 

Turrill categorized taxonomy into three types:

  • Alpha Taxonomy: This type focuses on collecting and identifying organisms based on their overall appearance, using field and herbarium studies. It helps create detailed records of different species.  

  • Beta Taxonomy: This type involves studying not just the appearance, but also the anatomy, genetics, and other factors to identify and classify organisms.  

  • Omega Taxonomy: This type considers even microscopic details and biochemical evidence to create new classification systems based on sound principles. 


Father of Indian Taxonomy

H Santapau

Father of Indian Botany and Indian Herbaria

William Roxburgh

Term ‘taxonomy’ coined by

A.P. de Candolle (French botanist)

Book- Théorie élémentaire de la Botanique

Father of Taxonomy

Carolus Linnaeus

Dynamic concept stating species is dynamic and mutable

Lamarck

Biological concept of species

Dobzhansky and Mayr


Living World NEET Notes: Facts Related to Taxonomy

Some of the common facts about the taxonomy of the living world are –


  1. Did you know the term ‘Taxonomy’ was first coined by A.P. Candolle?

  2. Taxonomic categories are also known as the Linnaean hierarchy.

  3. Carolus Linnaeus is known as the father of taxonomy.

  4. H. Santapau is regarded as the father of Indian taxonomy.

  5. The concepts of biological species were put forward by Dobzhansky and Mayr.

  6. William Roxburgh is acknowledged as the father of Indian Botany and Indian Herbaria.


Boost Your Revision Plan for Effective Results!

Since the scope of NEET is vast, and skipping fundamental topics is not feasible, you need to be smart with your revision plan. 


  • Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the Living world NEET Notes. This will help you focus your revision efforts on the right topics.

  • If you have notes from your classes or textbooks, organize them systematically. Break down the topics into smaller, manageable sections.

  • Rather than rote memorization, focus on understanding the underlying concepts. For the Living World notes for NEET, this involves understanding biodiversity, classification, and the characteristics of different organisms.

  • Diagrams, flowcharts, and tables can help in visualizing complex concepts. Try to create visual aids for key topics like taxonomy, ecological pyramids, etc.

  • NEET is largely MCQ-based, so practicing with multiple-choice questions is crucial. Try to find past papers or practice books with relevant questions and solve them regularly.

  • NEET syllabus is largely based on NCERT textbooks. Make sure to go through the Class 11 biology Chapter 1 notes for NEET in your NCERT Biology textbooks. Pay special attention to highlighted points, diagrams, and summaries.

  • Create flashcards for important terms, definitions, and key points. This can help in quick revision, especially if you're short on time.

  • Consistency is key. Set aside dedicated time each day for revision, and regularly review the living world class 11 notes for NEET PDF download topics to ensure retention.


Conclusion

The Living World Class 11 Notes for NEET PDF download is a vital chapter for exam preparation. It lays the foundation for understanding life processes. Key points to focus on include the classification system, biodiversity, and the characteristics of living organisms. Understanding the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is crucial. Additionally, grasp the significance of binomial nomenclature and the hierarchical organization of species. Pay close attention to examples and exceptions within classification groups. Ensure clarity on terms like genus and species. Furthermore, grasp the importance of conservation and preservation of biodiversity. Regular revision and practice with the living world class 11 notes for NEET will enhance comprehension and retention.


FAQs on The Living World Notes for NEET Class 11 Biology

1. Why do we Classify Living Organisms?

There are numerous organisms that live  on this earth. As getting comprehensive information about all of them can be challenging, therefore, scientists took a step to categorize them into specific taxonomic categories. It helps identify the connection between similar organisms and analyze the same with ease.

2. What are the Significant Features of Living Organisms?

The significant features of organisms include growth, cell organisation, metabolism, sense of surrounding, etc. The similarities in these features link organisms to other entities with a common genetic component.

3. What are the Taxonomic Categories? Provide an Example.

It is the sequence in which living organisms are identified, named and organised based on their cell structure, growth and other vital biological data. The taxonomy category of a tiger is - Kingdom (Animalia), Phylum (Chordata), Class (Mammalia), Order (Carnivore), Family (Felidae), Genus (Panthera), Species (Tigris). 

4. Why is the Living World Chapter an Important Resource for NEET Preparation?

The Living World Chapter of Biology is one of the most important and demanding resources for NEET exam prep. NEET exam difficulty increases year by year and it is very important for the aspirants to revise all the important topics and manage their time well. Important notes provided by Vedantu are extremely convenient for students to learn from. The Living World Chapter is very essential to excel in the test as it carries important topics like - Moera, Viruses, Fungi, Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom-I, Animal Kingdom-II, etc. Students are required to polish the important notes.

5. What is the difficulty level of Biology?

Difficulty level of the Biology paper is increasing year by year but it is also one of the most interesting and important subjects for the NEET aspirants. Biology carries the highest weightage in NEET. Candidates are required to understand all the Biology topics from the NEET syllabus. Vedantu provides complete notes that are very helpful for the aspirants in order to comprehend the subject better. The Biology notes are prepared by Vedantu experts to help students ace the NEET exam. 

6. Is the living world botany or zoology?

The living world isn't just botany or zoology - it encompasses all living things, including plants (botany), animals (zoology), fungi, bacteria, and archaea.

7. What is diversity in the living world NEET notes?

For NEET, diversity in the living world refers to the vast variety of organisms on Earth. This includes the number of species, their different characteristics, and how they are classified. It's a fundamental concept for understanding biology and evolution.

8. What is the concept of the living world NEET notes?

The living world encompasses all living organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and protists. It's the study of life in its various forms, exploring their characteristics, behaviors, interactions, and evolutionary relationships. This branch of biology delves into the fundamental principles governing life processes and the diversity of life forms found in different ecosystems.

9. What is the living world known as?

The living world is often referred to as the biosphere or the realm of life. It encompasses all ecosystems where life exists, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains and everything in between.

10. What is special about NEET?

NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam in India for students aspiring to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) courses in various government and private medical colleges across the country. What makes NEET special is its comprehensive syllabus that assesses students' knowledge in physics, chemistry, and biology. NEET is also unique in its nationwide scope, being the single entrance examination for admission to medical and dental colleges in India, replacing multiple individual state-level medical entrance exams.

11. Whose notes are best for NEET?

The notes provided by Vedantu are often considered as one of the good options for NEET preparation. Vedantu offers comprehensive study materials, including notes, practice questions, and online classes, which are designed by experienced educators and subject matter experts. Many students find Vedantu's notes helpful due to their clear explanations, concise summaries, and focus on important topics relevant to the NEET exam. However, it's essential to remember that the "best" notes can vary depending on individual learning styles and preferences. Therefore, it's recommended to explore different resources and choose the ones that align best with your study needs and goals.