Module 1 : Introduction

Lecture 2 : Classification of Living Organisms

 

KINGDOM MONERA: Bacteria belong to kingdom monera. There are further divided into different catagories base on shapes; Coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod), vibirium (comma shape) and spirillium (spiral). They can be able to grow from soil to extreme conditions such as hot springs, snow and deep ocean. The selected examples of bacterial species belonging to different groups in kingdom monera are as follows:


1. Archaebacteria: The bacteria belongs to this group has distinct cell wall structure to allow their survival into extreme conditions. These bacterial species live in harsh habitats such as extreme salty areas (halophiles), hot springs (thermoacidophiles) and marshy areas (methanogens). The presence of these bacterial species in the cow dung is responsible for the production of methane (bio-gas).


2. Eubacteria: These are the true bacteria due to presence of rigid cell wall and a well defined flagellum for motility. Several species belonging to this group contain chlorophyll a and are photosynthetic autotrophs. In addition, few of the chemosynthetic autotrophs oxidize various inorganic substances such as nitrates, nitrites and ammonia to generate ATP. This properties is exploited in industriual setting as well as in environment to recycle nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous, iron and sulfur.


KINGDOM PROTISTA: All unicellular eukaryotes belongs to kingdom protista. The organisms in this group has well defined nucleus and other membrane bound organelles. These organisms have mixed properties of plant, fungi, animals and considered to be responsible for linking organisms in other kingdoms. Protista reproduce mostly asexually and sexually with cell fusion and zygote formation. The selected examples of few of the group from this kingdoms are as follows:  


1. Chrysophytes: Diatoms and golden-brown algae belong to this group. These organisms are present in water and float passively. Diatoms has silica cell wall and they accumulates in the ocean to give diatomaceous earth. This soil is used in polishing, filtration of oils and syrups.
2. Dianoflagellates: These are photosynthetic marine organisms of different colors depending upon the pigment present in their cell wall. The cell wall has cellulose on its outer surface. Most of the dianoflagellates have two flagella attached to their cell body. Red dianoflagellates multiplication in ocean and gives red color.


3. Euglenoids: Euglena is the representative organism belonging to this group. These are photosynthetic organism and they perform photosynthesis in the presence of sun light. In the absence of sunlight, it catches tiny preys and behave like heterotrophs. The cell body has a protein rich layer pellicle and it gives flexibility to the organism.