Explain the five groups that microorganisms are classified into.
Explain please
Answers
Microbial diversity is truly staggering, yet all these microbes can be grouped into five major types: Viruses, Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, and Protists.
Microorganisms can be classified as :-
Bacteria - These are the simple living microorganisms that are present all around us. They can unicellular, but they live together in colonies of millions. Most of them are helpful. But some of them are harmful and cause diseases in plants and animals. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis are caused by bacteria in human being. Disease like citrus canker are caused by bacteria in plants.
Fungi-These are the non green microorganisms whose bodies are made up of thread like structures. They can be unicellular as well as multicellular.
For Eg - Aspergillus, Penicillium etc.
Algae - These are the slimy green patches on the ponds and other stagnant waterbodies. Algae contains chlorophyll so it is capable of doing Photosynthesis. They are therefore, Autotrophs. Algae can be further classified as macro algae and micro algae.
For Eg - Chlamydomonas, Fucus, Volvox etc.
Protozoa - These microorganisms are similar to the animals which can move about to capture their food. They are heterotrophic in nature. They are unicellular microorganisms.
For Eg - Amoeba, Paramecium, Trypanosoma.
✏ Virus - They are different from these all microorganisms. Viruses reproduce only inside the bodies of living organisms which may be a bacteria, plant or an animal. They are non living outside the body of a host but once it get inside the host they become living and start reproducing. For this they are considered to be on a border line of living and non-living. Viruses can also infect a bacteria. They can seen only through electron microscope. Their cell pathways are different so antibiotics do not work on them.
For eg - Polio virus.
Hope it helps you.