UNIT 3 Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms

1 Microorganisms
Microorganisms are living things. They are microscopic, which means we
can’t see them without a microscope. All unicellular and some multicellular
living things are microorganisms.

Bacteria Unicellular algae Protozoa Mould Yeasts

Although some microorganisms cause harm, the majority are good for
humans and the environment. This is because they act as producers and
break down: divide into smaller
1
decomposers in ecosystems. parts or change into a different
form by a chemical process.
Producers are autotrophic organisms. Decomposers are heterotrophic
This means that they produce organisms. They break down1 organic invade: enter into an organism
2

organic matter from inorganic matter into simpler substances for plants or body part in a way that causes
matter. Algae and some types of to absorb. Fungi and some types of damage to health.
bacteria are producers. bacteria are decomposers. influenza: infectious disease, also
3

known as the flu, which passes

Diseases caused by microorganisms easily from one person to another.
4
HIV: virus that attacks immune cells.
Microorganisms that cause diseases are called pathogens. Bacteria,
protozoa and fungi can all produce diseases.

Capsid Viruses
Viruses aren’t part of any of the kingdoms of living things. They are microscopic
and are smaller than a cell. Their structure is very simple: a shell made of
protein, called a capsid, that contains nucleic acid.
Viruses aren’t living things because they don’t have most of the properties of
living things and can’t reproduce independently. To reproduce, viruses invade2
a cell of a living organism. That’s why they’re called obligate parasites. Viruses
Nucleic acid
containing genetic cause diseases in humans, such as influenza3 and HIV4, and also harm other
information living things.

Notes

3. Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms 17

 21 The Bacteria kingdom
1
exchange: give something and
receive something similar in return.
2
synthesise: produce a substance
after a chemical or biological
process.
3
passage: action of going across,
through or past something.
4
dormant: not active now but can
become active in the future.
5
unfavourable: not good,
problematic.
Organisms in the Bacteria kingdom are prokaryotes (they don’t have a
membrane-bound nucleus). They are autotrophic or heterotrophic and they
live in a variety of environments.
Vital functions
Interaction: bacteria respond to simple stimuli such as light or the
 
presence of chemical compounds. Some use flagella to move.
Reproduction: bacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission. It’s a
 
fast process where one cell splits into two genetically identical cells.
Bacteria can exchange1 genetic material through extensions called pili.
This process is called conjugation. As bacteria multiply, they often form
groups of millions or billions of cells called colonies.
Nutrition: bacteria are autotrophic or heterotrophic. Autotrophic
 
bacteria synthesise2 their own organic matter. Heterotrophic bacteria
feed on organic matter. Their nutrition is saprophytic, parasitic
or symbiotic.

Plasma membrane: controls

the passage3 of substances

Binary fission

Cell wall: protects the

bacterium

Ribosomes: synthesise proteins.

They are organelles which
participate in the synthesis of
endospores. An endospore is
Conjugation a dormant4, resistant, non-
reproductive structure. Some
bacteria produce endospores
when conditions are very
unfavourable5. That way, the
bacterium can stay dormant until
conditions are better and it can
Flagellum activate again.

Notes

18 3. Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms

3 The Protoctista kingdom
appendage: part of an organism
1

Eukaryotic unicellular and multicellular organisms that don’t belong to any that sticks out and has a special
other kingdom are part of the Protoctista kingdom. Algae and protozoa function.
belong to this kingdom. alternate: follow one after the
2

other in a repeated pattern.

Protozoa spore: very small cell which some
3

Protozoa are heterotrophic unicellular organisms with eukaryotic cells. They plants produce for reproduction.
live in water or humid environments and move in different ways.

Ciliated Flagellated Rhizopoda Sporozoan

Using lots of short Using long appendages Using extensions called They don’t move
Movement
appendages1 called cilia called flagella pseudopods independently.
Type of life Parasitic or free-living Parasitic or free-living Parasitic or free-living Parasitic

Example

Paramecium Trypanosoma brucei Amoeba Plasmodium

Protozoa reproduce asexually (binary fission) or sexually (conjugation process).
Algae
Algae are aquatic, photosynthetic, unicellular or multicellular eukaryotic
organisms. Their cells usually have a cell wall. Multicellular algae don’t form
tissues and their only specialised cells are their reproductive cells.

Brown Red Green

Predominant colour
Fucoxanthin
Multicellular, mostly found in
Characteristics
seas and oceans, big
Phycobilin Chlorophyll
Unicellular and multicellular, Unicellular and multicellular,
found in seas and oceans mostly found in freshwater

Example

Ecklonia Asparagopsis Ulva intestinalis

Some generations of algae alternate2 between sexual and asexual

reproduction. Multicellular algae reproduce using spores3 and some
unicellular algae reproduce asexually by binary fission. Some unicellular algae
have flagella. Others form colonies and develop independent functions.
Algae are autotrophic organisms.

Notes

3. Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms 19

 4 The Fungi kingdom
Fungi are eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms which are unicellular or
multicellular. Their cells have a cell wall made of chitin1. Multicellular fungi
don’t have tissues and their cells join together forming long, thin filaments2
called hyphae. Hundreds of these microscopic hyphae interlace3 forming a
structure called mycelium.
There are three main groups in the Fungi kingdom.

levaduras Yeasts mohos Moulds setas Mushrooms

  Unicellular Multicellular
  Multicellular
 
 They obtain energy from their The mycelium grows and forms
  The mycelium is underground but
 
nutrients in a process called filaments. We often find them growing forms a mushroom structure above
fermentation4. on foods such as bread or fruit. the ground.

Hyphae

Spores

Vital functions
Interaction: unicellular fungi, such as yeast, join together forming colonies,
chitin: white, fibrous substance
1 whereas multiicellular fungi form mycelia.
which gives organisms structure.
Reproduction: yeasts reproduce mostly by budding, whereas multicellular
filament: slim structure that looks
2
fungi reproduce by releasing spores. Structures called sporangia produce
like a thread. the spores. In mushrooms, the sporangia are at the bottom of the umbrella-
interlace: join together by crossing
3
shaped structure.
over and under each other.
Nutrition: fungi are heterotrophic organisms. There are three types of
4
fermentation: chemical breakdown nutrition, depending on the type of organic matter they feed on.
of a substance by bacteria, yeasts
or other microorganisms. 1. 
Saprophytic: feeding on the remains of other living things. Moulds
which grow on fruit are an example of this.
crop: plant that we grow in large
5

quantities, especially as food. 2. 

Parasitic: when one organism lives on or in another organism and causes
rely on: need or depend on
6 harm. An example of this is the fungus Puccinia which lives on cereal
something or someone. crops5 and causes a disease called stem rust.
emerge: start to exist, appear.
7
3.  Symbiotic: when two or more organisms rely on6 each other for
nutrition. For example, a lichen is a composite organism that emerges7
when algae live in the filaments of fungi. The fungi benefit from the
carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis and the filaments provide the
algae with moisture and nutrients.

Notes

20 3. Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms

5 The importance and uses of microorganisms
Humans have used microoganisms for thousands of years. Our ancestors1
used microorganisms unknowingly2 when they discovered how to make
ancestor: person in your family who
1
bread, cheese and wine.
lived a long time ago.
Today, we use microorganisms in different ways. 2
unknowingly: without knowing.
As research tools: Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli (a bacterium
  3
pharmaceutical drug: substance
we also call E. coli) and Neurospora crassa (a fungus) are often used as used as a medicine or used in a
model organisms in research. medicine.
  To produce pharmaceutical 4
faeces: excrement; solid waste
drugs3: Bacteria, fungi and algae material that leaves the body.
are essential in the development
of medicines (antibiotics, for
example) and cosmetics.
To make food: Many foods,
 
such as vinegar, bread and wine,
require the action of fermenting
Penicillium: a fungi used to produce penicillin
microorganisms (bacteria and
yeasts). We use the products of these fermenting microorganisms to
produce foods and alcoholic drinks.

Bread Cheese Beer Vinegar

Microorganisms and the environment

Microorganisms are very important for the environment because they’re
part of the cycles of matter in ecosystems. This means that they’re essential
for life to exist on Earth.
Some microorganisms produce organic matter and others transform
organic matter into inorganic matter.
Production of oxygen and organic matter: a large number of producers
 
are microorganisms, especially in aquatic ecosystems.
Recycling matter: decomposers (bacteria and fungi) transform the
 
waste organic material in ecosystems, such as faeces4, dead leaves, hair
and dead organisms, into mineral substances. These substances can then
be used again by producers.

Notes

3. Microorganisms: the Bacteria, Protoctista and Fungi kingdoms 21