micro-organisms Flashcards
how are all organisms on earth classified?
classified into the five kingdoms.
what are the five kingdoms?
1) kingdom Plantae
2) Kingdom Animalia
3) Kingdom Fungi
4) Kingdom Protista
5) Kingdom Monera
characteristics of organisms in Kingdom Plantae
- multi-cellular organisms are able to photosynthesis.
examples of organisms in Kingdom Plantae
1) flowering plants
2) ferns
3) mosses
characteristics of organisms in Kingdom Animalia
- heterotrophic animals
- multi-cellular
- their source of food depends if they are herbivores/ carnivores
characteristics of organisms in Kingdom Fungi
- either saprophytes or parasites.
- some are unicellular and microscopically small.
examples of organisms in Kingdom Fungi
1) yeasts
2) moulds
3) mushrooms
characteristics of organisms in Kingdom Protista
- eukaryotic
- unicellular organisms
examples of organisms in Kingdom Protista
1) animal-like protozoa
2) unicellular algae
3) slime moulds
4) water mould
characteristics of organisms in Kingdom Monera
- includes all the prokaryotic organisms
an example of an organism in the Kingdom Monera
bacteria
what are prokaryotic organisms?
the cells in these organisms do not have a nucleus or any cellular bodies. their genetic material (DNA) is not encased in a nucleus.
what are eukaryotic organisms?
the cells in these organisms contain a variety of cellular bodies called organelles. the various vital functions (metabolism) of the cell occur in these organelles.
when are micro-organisms useful?
when they play a role in the ecosystem as decomposers of dead plant and animal matter.
why is that process essential?
it recycles essential nutrients into the soil.
when are micro-organisms harmful?
when they cause disease in plants and animals.
how are micro-organisms divided?
1) viruses
2) kingdom Monera
3) kingdom Fungi
4) kingdom protista
why aren’t viruses seen as living organisms?
they show no characteristics of life and can only multiply inside living organisms.
characteristics of viruses?
1) consist of a protein capsule that surrounds a nucleic acid.
2) are very small.
3) size varies from 10 nm to 200 nm.
4) have symmetrical shapes
5) distributed in means of food, contact and vectors.
what is bacteriophage?
a type of virus that feeds onto bacteria.
what are some diseases caused by viruses?
- common colds
- influenza
- polio
- chicken pox
- fever blisters
- HIV/AIDS
- Covid-19
how can bacteria be defined.
organisms that contain nuclear material and are surrounded by a membrane.
where can bacteria be found?
in the air, soil, water, dead and living matter
what is the common size of bacteria?
5 um to less than 1 um