Project 2

THE KINGDOMS

1.      (A) Arrange all six kingdoms from the simplest to the most complex.

a.       Archaebacteria

b.      Eubacteria

c.       Protista

d.      Fungi

e.       Plantae

f.       Animalia

           (B) Name kingdoms that match the profile of microorganisms.

a.       Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protista and Fungi

          (C) Why do the two remaining kingdoms not qualify as microorganisms?

a.       Plantae and Animalia don’t fit the criteria to qualify as a microorganism. They have tissue differentiation and can be seen with the unaided eye while the microbes can be seen only through the lenses of a microscope.

DIVERSITY OF MICROBIAL LIFE

2.      (A) Describe two characteristics shared by Eubacteria and Archaebacteria.

a.       Two characteristics that are shared by Eubacteria and Archaea are that they both are single cell organisms and both reproduce asexually.

 

             (B) Estimate the average size of human and animal cells.

a.       The average size of Archaea and bacteria can be estimated around a 0.2 μm diameter and around the length of 2-8 μm.

3.      (A) Differentiate the kingdom Eubacteria from Archaebacteria.

 

	ARCHAEA	BACTERIA
CELL WALL	Pseudopeptidoglycan	Peptidoglycan/lipopolysaccharide
GROWTH & REPRODUCTION	Reproduce asexually by the process of binary fission, budding and fragmentation	Reproduce asexually through binary fission, budding, fragmentation, but have the ability to form spores to remain dormant over years
HABITAT	Extreme and harsh environments like hot springs, salt lakes, marshlands, oceans	Ubiquitous and are found in soil, hot springs, radioactive waste, water, earth’s crust, organic matter, bodies of plants and animals

            (B) Estimate average sized of human and animal cells.

a.       The estimated average sizes of human and animal cells differ in many ways and from organ to organ. In humans, the estimated average sizes and shapes vary. The average cell is between 10 to 100 micrometers. This diversity is due to the cell's primary function. Some cells, for example the nerve cells, are long and can measure up to a meter long while others like a cheek cell is about 50 micrometers or 0.05 millimeters in size. In animals, most cells range in size between 1 and 100 micrometers.

4.      (A) How are kingdoms Fungi and Plantae similar?

a.       They are both Eukaryotic. That is they have complex organelles, linear DNA, membrane bound organelles, they are also relatively bigger than other microscopic cells. Other factors are being single celled or multicellular, and a distinct nucleus with DNA. 

            (B) Why are Fungi and Plantae not in the same kingdom?

a.       Fungi and Plants are not grouped into the same kingdom because they differ in the way the take nutrients. Plants are autotrophs which means that they produce their own food from photosynthesis, while the Fungi are heterotrophs which means they take food from other organisms through metabolism.

KINGDOM: PROTISTA

1.      (A) Briefly describe kingdom Protista.

a.       All protists are eukaryotic. In addition, all protists live in moist environments. Protists can be unicellular or multicellular.  Protists can be microscopic or can be over 100 meters long.  Some protists are heterotrophs, while others are autotrophs. Since protists vary so much, they are grouped into three subcategories: animal-like protists, fungus-like protists, and plant-like protists.

             (B) Name and describe the Protista that look like fungi.

a.       Fungus-like protists are a small group, often brightly colored heterotrophs with cell walls.  They also reproduce by forming spores.  All fungus-like protists are able to move at some point in their lives.  There are essentially three types of fungus-like protists:  water molds, downy mildews, and slime molds.

 

(C) Identify and discuss Protista with animal-like characteristics.

a.       Protists that are classified as animal-like are called protozoans and share some common traits with animals.  All animal-like protists are heterotrophs.  Likewise, all animal-like protists are able to move in their environment in order to find their food.  Unlike, animals, however, animal-like protists are all unicellular. Animal-like protists are divided into four basic groups based on how they move and live. Mastigophorans are protists with flagella such as Giardia, Sarcodines are protists with pseudopods like the Amoeba, Sporozoa are parasitic protists like Plasmodium sp., and Ciliates are protists with cilia like the Paramecium.

(D) What are plant-like Protista called? Describe them.

a.       Plant-like protists are autotrophic.  They can live in soil, on the bark of trees, in fresh water, and in salt water.  These protists are very important to the Earth because they produce a lot of oxygen, and most living things need oxygen to survive.  Furthermore, these plant-like protists form the base of aquatic food chains. These plant-like protists can be unicellular, multicellular, or live in colonies.  The plant-like protists are divided into three basic groups:  Euglenophytes, Chrysophytes (diatoms/algae) and Dinoflagellates.

 

REAL VIRUSES

1.      (A) How does microbiology define a virus?

a.       Viruses may be defined as acellular organisms whose genomes consist of nucleic acid, and which obligately replicate inside host cells using host metabolic machinery and ribosomes to form a pool of components which assemble into particles called virions, which serve to protect the genome and to transfer it to other cells.

(B) What criteria qualify viruses as living things?

a.       We first must define what needs to be present for life to be determined: homeostasis, highly organized structure, metabolism, should grow, adaptation to environment, respond to environment stimuli, and be able to reproduce. Viruses maintain some degree of homeostasis, being able to keep its protenatious and nucleic machinery separated from the outside world. Viruses also show adaptation, with their ability to mutate in order to affect new organisms.

 

(C) How would you rationalize viruses as non-living things?

a.       Viruses are not technically considered living organisms because they are devoid of biological processes (such as metabolism and respiration) and cannot reproduce on their own but require a living cell (of a plant, animal, or bacterium) to make more viruses.