The Five Major Groups of Microbes: Additional Resource
The Five Major Groups of Microbes: Additional Resource
The Five Major Groups of Microbes: Additional Resource
Microbiology
Genome Single circular Single circular Linear dsDNA Linear dsDNA Linear or
dsDNA dsDNA chromosomes chromosomes circular
chromosome chromosome ssDNA,
May also have May also have dsDNA,
circular circular ssRNA or
dsDNA dsDNA dsRNA
plasmids plasmids
Nucleus - - + + -
Membrane-
bound - - + + -
organelles
Size of 70S 70S 80S 80S -
ribosomes
use host
ribosomes
to make
virus
proteins
Cell walls Contain Lack Some contain Contain chitin -
peptidoglycan peptidoglycan cellulose
Cell Ester-linked Ether-linked Ester-linked Ester-linked May have
membranes lipids lipids lipids lipids envelope
derived
from host
membrane
ds = double stranded, ss = single stranded, DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid, RNA = ribonucleic acid, Mb =
mega bases (1,000,000 nucleotides); Kb = kilobases (1, 000 nucleotides)