Classification of Micro-organisms

When we get one by one, they can not be seen with our naked eye.

Micro-organismss are categorised into five main groups.

( Bacteria, algae, Fungi, Protozoa, Virus )

BACTERIA

* Unicellular organisms.

* Possess a cell wall.

* Some groups are autotrophic while others are hetertrophic..

* Reproduction of bacteria mainly takes place by fission.

* Can be divded into four main groups based on the shape.

• Cocci - Round and spherical

• Bacilli - Rod shaped

• Spirilli - Spiral shaped

• Vibrio - Comma shaped

ALGAE

* Some algae are unicellular while others are multicellular..

* Most of the algae are aquatic.

* They are autotrophic organisms.

FUNGI

* Some fungi are unicellular while others are multicellular..

* Cell wall is made-up of chitin..

* They are heterotrophic organisms.

* Most of the fungi are decomposers while others are parasitic.

PROTOZOA

* Unicellular organisms.

* Do not possess cell wall.

* They are heterotrophic organisms.

* Use several methods for locomotion. ( Eg: False feet

- Amoeba, Cilia - Paramaeciam, Flagella - Euglena)

VIRUS

* Characteristics between living and non living.

* Contain only DNA or RNA in a protein coat .

* The only life function is reproduction.

* Reproduction is done only inside a host living cell.