You are on page 1of 2

Eubacteriophyta

Eubacteriophyta are the true gram-positive bacteria. Gram-positive means that these
bacteria would give a positive result in a Gram’s stain. Gram-positive bacteria have a
higher peptidoglycan content than gram-negative bacteria, while gram-negative
bacteria have a higher lipid concentration. Within this phylum, bacteria can be
spherical (coccus), rod-shaped (bacillus) or corkscrew-shaped (spirillum).

Cyanophyta
This phylum of bacteria contains organisms that were once known as “blue-green
algae.” Today they are generally classified as cyanobacteria, as the absence of a
nucleus clearly indicates that they are more closely related to the other bacteria than
they are to algae. But like algae, cyanobacteria do contain chlorophyll and are able to
photosynthesize. Some scientists speculate that the cyanobacteria are the precursors
to chloroplasts in higher photosynthesizing organisms, such as algae and plants.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

00:15
01:35

Proteobacteria
The most diverse phylum within the Monera kingdom, Proteobacteria includes
nitrogen-fixing bacteria, which make nitrogen from the air available to plants and
animals. Without them, life as we know it could not exist. Proteobacteria also includes
the familiar E. coli and salmonella species of bacteria, well known for being potential
agents of food poisoning.

Spirochaetes
These bacteria have a coiled shape, as their name suggests. Treponema pallidum, a
bacteria within this phylum, causes syphilis in humans. Borrelia burgdorferi, another
member of this group, causes Lyme disease. Not all spirochaetes are harmful to their
hosts. Some of them live in the digestive tracks of termites where they contribute,
along with other micro-organisms, to the termite’s ability to digest cellulose. This is
beneficial, at least to the termite.

Classification
It's worth noting that there are different schools of thought regarding classifying
organisms. There is no "official" taxonomy of Monera into specific phyla. Indeed, many
scientists subscribe to a system that does away with the kingdom Monera entirely, and
the other four kingdoms as well, replacing this with a system in which all life is divided
into three domains. Two of these would contain organisms formerly members of
Monera, while all other life would be part of the third domain.

You might also like