CLASSIFICATION OF

MICROORGANISMS
SUBMITTED BY

K.R. MANJU YADAV

1ST YEAR, ME ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

PANDIAN SARASWATHI YADAV ENGINEERING COLLEGE

INTRODUCTION
• Microbiology is actually one of the most important sub-sectors of biology.

• The major importance of medical microbiology is that it helps in the

identification, isolation, diagnosis and treatment of pathogenic microorganisms
and also produces beneficial organisms such as yeasts and some antibiotics.

• Microbial solutions enable farmers to drive yield and productivity in a

sustainable way.
CLASSIFICTION OF CELLS
• All living organisms have unique cellular organization, which may contain one
or many cells.

• The organism which possess only one cell is called Unicellular organisms
(Bacteria, Blue green algae, Protozoa, etc...).

• The organism which possess more than one cell or many cells is known as
Multicellular organism (Fungi, Plants, Animals, Insects, Human beings).

• Any living organism may contain only one type of cell, based on their
complexity, either – prokaryotic or eukaryotic
PROKARYOTIC CELLS

• Prokaryote means Before Nucleus in Greek. It is a single-celled organism that

lacks nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.

• Therefore, all reactions occur within the Cytoplasm known as Nucleoid.

Prokaryotes include Bacteria and Archaea.

• A prokaryotic cell lacks certain organelles like mitochondria, endoplasmic

reticulum, and Golgi bodies.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS

Prokaryotic cells have different characteristic features. The characteristics of the

prokaryotic cells are mentioned below.

• They lack a nuclear membrane.

• Mitochondria, Golgi bodies, chloroplast, and lysosomes are absent.

• The genetic material is present on a single chromosome.

• The histone proteins, the important constituents of eukaryotic chromosomes,
are lacking in them.

• The cell wall is made up of carbohydrates and amino acids.

• The plasma membrane acts as the mitochondrial membrane carrying

respiratory enzyme

• They divide asexually by binary fission.

• The sexual mode of reproduction involves conjugation.

PROKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE

• Capsule: It is an outer protective covering found in the bacterial cells, in

addition to the cell wall. It helps in retaining moisture content and helps in
attachment of cells to nutrients and surfaces.

• Cell wall: It is the outermost layer of the cell which gives shape to the cell.

• Cytoplasm: The cytoplasm is mainly composed of enzymes, salts, cell

organelles and is a gel like component.
• Cell Membrane: This layer surrounds the cytoplasm and regulates the entry and
exit of substances in the cells.

• Pili: These are hair-like outgrowths that attach to the surface of other bacterial
cells. Flagella:

• These are long structures in the form of a whip that help in the locomotion of a
cell.

• Ribosomes: These are involved in protein synthesis.

• Nucleoid: It is the region in the cytoplasm where the genetic material is

present.
REPRODUCTION IN PROKARYOTES

• A prokaryote reproduces in two ways:

1. Asexually by binary fission

2. Sexually by conjugation

• Binary Fission The DNA of an organism replicates and the new copies attach
to the cell membrane.

• The cell wall starts increasing in size and starts moving inwards.
• Recombination In this process, genes from one bacteria are transferred to the
genome of other bacteria.

• Conjugation is the process in which genes are transferred between two bacteria
through a protein tube structure called a pilus.

• Transformation is the mode of sexual reproduction in which the DNA from the
surroundings is taken by the bacterial cell and incorporated in its DNA.

• Transduction is the process in which the genetic material is transferred into the
bacterial cell with the help of viruses. Bacteriophages are the virus that initiates
the process.
EXAMPLES OF PROKARYOTIC CELLS
• Bacterial cells

• Archaeal cells

Bacterial cells - These are unicellular organisms found everywhere on earth from
soil to the human body.

• They have different shapes and structures.

• The cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan that provides structure to the cell
wall.
• Bacteria have some unique structures such as pili, flagella and capsule

• They also possess extra chromosomal DNA known as plasmids.

• They have the ability to form tough, dormant structures known as endospores that
helps them to survive under unfavourable conditions. The endospores become
active when the conditions are favourable again.

Archaeal cells - Archaea bacteria are unicellular organisms similar to bacteria in

shape and size.

• They are found in extreme environments such as hot springs and other places such
as soil, marshes, and even inside humans.
EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus enclosed within the nuclear membrane and
form large and complex organisms.

• Protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals all have eukaryotic cells. They are
classified under the kingdom Eukaryota.

• They can maintain different environments in a single cell that allows them to
carry out various metabolic reactions.

• This helps them grow many times larger than the prokaryotic cells.
CHARACTERISTICS OF EUKARYOTIC
CELLS
• Eukaryotic cells have the nucleus enclosed within the nuclear membrane.

• The cell has mitochondria. Flagella and cilia are the locomotory organs in a
eukaryotic cell.

• A cell wall is the outermost layer of the eukaryotic cells.

• The cells divide by a process called mitosis.

• The nucleus contains a single, linear DNA, which carries all the genetic
information
EUKARYOTIC CELL STRUCTURE
• Plasma Membrane separates the cell from the outside environment.

• It comprises specific embedded proteins, which help in the exchange of substances

in and out of the cell.

• Cell Wall a rigid structure present outside the plant cell. It is, however, absent in
animal cells.

• It provides shape to the cell and helps in cell-to-cell interaction.

• It is a protective layer that protects the cell from any injury or pathogen attacks.
• Endoplasmic Reticulum: It is a network of small, tubular structures that divides
the cell surface into two parts: luminal and extra luminal.

• Nucleus The nucleoplasm enclosed within the nucleus contains DNA and
proteins.

• The nuclear envelop consists of two layers- the outer membrane and the inner
membrane.

• Ribosome production also takes place inside the nucleus.

• Ribosomes: These are the main site for protein synthesis and are composed of
proteins and ribonucleic acids.
• Golgi Apparatus It is made up of flat disc-shaped structures called cisternae.

• It is an important site for the formation of glycoproteins and glycolipids.

• Mitochondria also known as “powerhouse of cells” because they produce

energy.

• They help in the regulation of cell metabolism.

• Lysosomes: They are known as “suicidal bags” because they possess hydrolytic
enzymes to digest protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.
EUKARYOTIC CELL CYCLE
• The eukaryotic cells divide during the cell cycle. The cell passes through
different stages during the cycle. There are various checkpoints between each
stage.

1. Quiescence (G0)

2. Interphase

3. Mitosis
• Quiescence (G0) This is known as the resting phase, and the cell does not
divide during this stage.

• The cell cycle starts at this stage.

• The cells of the liver, kidney, neurons, and stomach all reach this stage and can
remain there for longer periods.

• Interphase In this stage, the cells grow and take in nutrients to prepare them for
the division. It consists of three checkpoints.

• Gap 1 (G1) – Here the cell enlarges. The proteins also increase.
• Synthesis (S) – DNA replication takes place in this phase.

• Gap 2 (G2) – The cells enlarge further to undergo mitotic division.

• Mitosis: involves the following stages:

• Prophase

• Prometaphase & Metaphase

• Anaphase

• Telophase & Cytokinesis

• On division, each daughter cell is an exact replica of the original cell.

EXAMPLES OF EUKARYOTIC CELLS
• Eukaryotic cells are exclusively found in plants, animals, fungi, protozoa, and
other complex organisms. The examples of eukaryotic cells are mentioned
below:

• Plant Cells

• Fungal Cells

• Animal Cells

• Protozoa
• Plant Cells The cell wall is made up of cellulose, which provides support to the
plant.

• It has a large vacuole which maintains the turgor pressure.

• The plant cell contains chloroplast, which aids in the process of photosynthesis.

• Fungal Cells The cell wall is made of chitin.

• Some fungi have holes known as septa which allow the organelles and
cytoplasm to pass through them.
• Animal Cells These do not have cell walls.

• Instead, they have a cell membrane.

• That is why animals have varied shapes.

• They have the ability to perform phagocytosis and pinocytosis.

• Protozoa are unicellular organisms.

• Some protozoa have cilia for locomotion.

• A thin layer called pellicle provides supports to the cell.