Microbiology: An Introduction, 11th Edition

Published by Benjamin Cummings
ISBN 10: 0321733606
ISBN 13: 978-0-32173-360-3

Chapter 1 - Figure 1.1 - Types of microrganisms - Question - Page 5: 1

Answer

Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes. Bacteria can come in several shapes, but on a cellular basis a bacterium is a single-celled organism which is buffered by a cell wall composed of peptidoglycen. Archaea differs from bacteria in that if it has cell walls, it does not contain peptidoglycen. Fungi, protozoa, and algae are all eukaryotes. Fungi can be unicellular or multicellular, and all types of fungi possess cell walls composed of chitin. Fungi are incapable of photosynthesis. Protozoa are unicellular organisms which are mobile through the use of cilia, flagella, or pseudopods. Some protozoa are photosynthetic, some are not. Algae is usually unicellular, and has cell walls composed of cellulose. It is always photosynthetic. Viruses are sui generis: they are accelular microbes composed of one type of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA), and are covered in a protein coat which is sometimes surrounded with a lipid membrane.

Work Step by Step

The name of two important prokaryotes are bacteria and archaea. In fact, Bacteria can appear in different shapes, but on a perspective of a cellular basis, a bacterium is a single-celled organism that is covered by a cell wall composed of peptidoglycan. On the other hand, Archaea is different from bacteria because it has covered with cell walls, moreover, it does not contain peptidoglycan. Similarly, the mentionable eukaryotes are fungi, protozoa, and algae. Hence, Fungi can be called unicellular or multicellular, and all types of fungi possess cell walls made of chitin. Accordingly, Fungi are considered to be incapable of photosynthesis. On the other hand, protozoa are composed of mobile organisms through the use of cilia, flagella, or pseudopods. Some protozoa are photosynthetic, some are not available to be photosynthetic. Algae is gradually unicellular and it has cell walls made of cellulose. It is always capable of making its own food. Viruses are called "sui generis," and this means they are acellular microbes composed of one type of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA) and are covered in a coated shell of protein which is sometimes surrounded by a lipid membrane.
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