Micro-organisms
Micro-organisms have been on Earth for billions of
years and have adapted to live in extreme conditions. They are found in almost
all areas of the Earth's biosphere and new microorganisms are still being discovered
all the time. Some can be harmful, causing disease and illnesses, while others
are useful to us and are a vital part of ecosystems
What
are micro-organisms?
- Micro-organisms are very small beings which cannot be seen with the naked eye one would need a microscope to see them.
- There are mainly four types of micro-organisms; fungi, virus, protists and bacteria.
- Viruses
- They are generally considered as non-living.
- They do not break down food for energy nor do they have an organized cell structure.
- They do not carry out the essential life processes that other living organisms do
- Viruses are microscopic particles that attack the healthy cells of other living organisms.
Bacteria
- All bacteria are unicellular although some of them live together
- This group or kingdom is called the Monera
- They belong to a group all bythemselves
- Bacteria are living things that are neither plant nor animal.
Bacteria