Stage 1 SACE Biology - Microorganisms

The 5 major groups of microorganisms.

Microorganisms

Organisms that are too small to be observed without a microscope.

Prokaryote

Organisms that lack a nucleus and have a cell wall and membrane surrounding the cytoplasm.

Bacteria

Unicellular microorganisms that can have various shapes and may possess flagella for movement.

Archaea

Prokaryotic microorganisms that inhabit extreme environments and can use inorganic molecules as an energy source.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms with cell walls that decompose dead matter and return chemical elements to the environment.

Penicillin

The first antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928, which works by bursting bacterial cell walls and has saved millions of lives.

Protists

Simple, primitive animals consisting of a single cell, often found in water and soil, and include groups like amoeba and flagellates.

Algae

Simple autotrophic plants that range from microscopic forms to giant kelp, playing a crucial role in aquatic food chains and oxygen production.