i

Identity of Microorganisms: How Are They Classified, and What Is the

Importance of Classification?

Savina Grace F. Panganiban

Rochelle Anne B. Montuya

Genesis Meg A. Olaguera

Denise Ann G. Nagera

Zyra Kyle A. Parado

Dessa Mae Paño

Bachelor of Science in Biology

College of Arts and Sciences
Camarines Norte State College
Daet, Camarines Norte

Presented to

Mr. Patrick O. Cabrejas

Microbiology Adviser

February, 2023
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Introduction

Microorganisms are microscopic organisms that are widespread. Humans cannot see
them with their naked eyes, but they are present every day—they are in us, on us, and with
us.
Microbiology is the study of these microorganisms. Bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi,
protozoa, and algae are all examples of microbes. These microbes are important in nutrient
cycling, biodegradation/biodeterioration, climate change, food spoilage, disease causation
and control, and biotechnology. Microbes, because of their adaptability, can be used in a
variety of applications, particularly in medicine. Bacteria, yeasts, and molds have been
known for both good and bad causes, and they have always been crucial to human survival.
They are inextricably linked to biotechnology, food sciences, medicine, genetic engineering,
and other areas of life, just as they were in the past and are currently.

There are so many microorganisms in this world, and without the proper naming and
classification of each organism, its application in medicine and other fields might not go in
the right direction. A newly discovered creature is classified by identifying the precise traits
that set it apart from all other forms of organisms. Similarity-based taxonomic classification
of microorganisms is important for industrial and clinical applications where close
relationships imply similar uses and/or treatments. Because it is not always clear which
characteristics are the most crucial, there is constant discussion among scientists over how to
define new species. Scientists develop new species based on minute variations between
organisms, and they tend to downplay minute variations and emphasize large similarities.

Objectives
The following are the objectives that need to be obtained:
1. Explain the importance of microbiology and its branches.
2. Explain the classification scheme of microorganisms:
a. Two-Kingdom System
b. Three-Kingdom System
c. Four-Kingdom System
d. Five-Kingdom System
e. Seven-Kingdom System
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Discussion
How important are microbiology and its branches?
Microbiology is very important because the discoveries in this field have made a great
contribution to improving health and other aspects of everyday lives. In addition,
microbiology is categorized into two branches: pure microbiology and applied microbiology.

Pure microbiology consists of microbial genetics and immunology, which focus on

how microorganisms evolve and grow based on their microbial genetics and how the human
body can respond to bacteria and pathogens. On the other hand, applied microbiology
consists of medical microbiology, which focuses on the medicine, diagnosis, and prevention
of diseases caused by harmful microorganisms.

What is the process for naming organisms?

Taxonomy is the field of biology that is concerned with the theory, practice, and rules
of classifying living and extinct organisms and viruses. On the other hand, binomial
nomenclature is the process of naming organisms in two ways: the first is the genus, and the
second is the specific epithet, both of which use Latin grammatical forms. Organisms are
typically classified based on their distinguishing characteristics. Classifying and naming
organisms is vital because an organism's classification frequently provides useful information
about its evolutionary history and which other organisms are related to it.

What is a kingdom in biology?

The biological kingdom system is how science classifies living things based on their
ancestors over the course of evolution. The kingdom is the second highest taxonomic rank
next to domain in taxonomy, and next to the kingdom are the more specific classifications,
which are the phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. They all follow a hierarchical
order and are interdependent. Living things are divided into five kingdoms: Animalia,
Plantae, Fungus, Protista, and Monera (Eubacteria and Archaea).

What are the different classification schemes of microorganisms?

a.) Two-Kingdom System
During the Linnaean Era, the Two-Kingdom System was proposed and introduced by
Carl Linnaeus. This system is categorized by Kingdom Plantae and Kingdom Animalia. The
two groups served as the center around which early naturalists created theories about the
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plant and animal kingdoms. Since Linnaeus, the kingdoms have been included in the official
classification of living things.

Organism classification had gained insight into plants and animals and was simple to
perform and understand. Yet, a significant portion of species did not fit within either
category. Hence, the long-used two-kingdom classification was deemed insufficient. In
addition to physical appearance, it was considered that other features should be included,
such as cell structure, wall type, manner of nourishment, habitat, ways of reproduction, and
evolutionary relationships.

Kingdom Plantae
Autotrophs are living things that make their own nourishment through nitrogen
fixation or photosynthesis. These creatures include practically all forms of plants, fungi,
algae, cyanobacteria, and other sorts of microbes. The name "autotroph" comes from the
Greek words "self" and "trophos," both of which mean "to take food." By combining
inorganic substances (Co2, water, and light) to form the organic chemical glucose, they are
able to manufacture food (C6H12O6).

Kingdom Animalia
The other sort of organism, known as heterotrophs (from the Greek hetro, meaning
other trophs eating food), is unable to make its own food and instead feeds on the grass,
leaves, and meat that autotrophs produce. The kingdom of Animalia contains these
organisms. These organisms are made up of countless bacterial species, fungi, and almost all
animal species, including humans.

b.) Three-Kingdom System

Ernest Haeckel developed the third kingdom, Protista, which included individuals,
plants, and animals. Any organisms that cause issues in the other two kingdom classifications
are included in the kingdom Protista. He divides all living things into three realms; as a result,
Haeckel identified three kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, and Protista.
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Kingdom Protista
Kingdom Protista, as proposed by Hackle, was included in the classification system of
microorganisms. These organisms, such as Euglena, bacteria, Chlymedomonas, and other can
produce their food through photosynthesis because they have chlorophyll for the purpose of
doing so. This kingdom includes organisms that have characteristics similar to those of both
animals and plants. Algae, amoebas, euglena, plasmodium, and slime molds are just a few
examples of the many different forms that protists can take. Protists that are able to do
photosynthesis include many varieties of algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and euglena. These
creatures can arrange themselves into colonies, although the bulk of them are unicellular.

c.) Four-Kingdom System

The distinction between prokaryotes (which lack a distinct nucleus) and eukaryotes
(which have a distinct nucleus) was made possible by the creation and advancement of the
microscope. Based on the distinction, Herbert Copeland in 1956 proposed the four kingdom
classification organisms with the kingdom monera to include the organisms with the unclear
indistinct nucleus.

In the 1960s, Roger Stanier and C. B. Van Niel proposed the idea of a superkingdom
and an empire. They postulated two empires, prokaryotic and eukaryotic, which served as the
foundation for three domain classification schemes.

Kingdom Monera
Kingdom Monera was characterized as: solitary unicellular or colonial unicellular
organization; prokaryotic cells lacking nuclear membranes, plastids, mitochondria, and
advanced flagella (but in one group, mycelial). Absorption of nutrients is the primary route;
however, certain groups are photosynthetic or chemosynthetic. Most asexual reproduction
occurs through fission or budding, while proto-sexual occurrences can take place by gliding,
simple flagella, or not moving.
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d.) Five-Kingdom System

The initial observation by the Greek philosopher was expanded in the 19th and 20th
centuries by the discovery of new kingdoms, finally arriving at today's widely-recognized
five, which cover the estimated 8.7 million species that live on Earth.

Robert Whittaker was the first to divide living organisms into five broad kingdoms. In
1959, he demonstrated that fungi were not plant organisms as believed by many, but then he
proposed the formation of the fungi kingdom to distinguish them from plants. Whittaker's
theory was widely accepted, and the scientific community thus added a new group to the
previous four-kingdom system, which was established in 1956 by the American biologist
Herbert Copeland.

Kingdom Fungi
Yeasts, molds, and all species of mushrooms and toadstools are all members of the
fungi kingdom. Chitin is found in the cell walls of these multicellular aerobic heterotrophic
eukaryotes, which feed on other living things and reproduce via spores. Fungi belong to the
opisthokonta lineage of eukaryotes and are thus more closely related to animals than to
plants.

e.) Seven-Kingdom System

The kingdom system continues to grow due to the discoveries of different scientists.
One of the scientists who has made a great contribution in the field of biology is Thomas
Cavalier-Smith who proposed seven kingdoms: bacteria, archaea, protozoa, chromista,
plantae, fungi, and animalia.

In 1981, Chromista was defined as a biological kingdom to distinguish some protists

from protozoans and plants. According to Cavalier-Smith, the kingdom originally only
included algae, but subsequent research revealed that many protozoa also belong to the new
group.
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Kingdom Chromista
Chromista are single-celled and multicellular eukaryotic species with photosynthetic
organelles that are similar (plastids). It includes all protists with chlorophyll C in their
plastids, such as algae, diatoms, oomycetes, and protozoans. It is a polyphyletic group,
meaning that its members evolved independently from the common ancestor of all
eukaryotes. Because it is assumed that the last common ancestor already possessed
chloroplasts of red algal origin, non-photosynthetic forms evolved from photosynthesis-
capable ancestors.

Conclusions
Microbiology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of microorganisms,
such as their roles and functions, their variety and diversity, how they reproduce, how they
respond to their environments, and classifying microorganisms based on their traits and
shareable qualities with other microorganisms. Microbiology also has its own branches,
which are pure and applied microbiology, both of which aid in the detection, isolation,
diagnosis, and treatment of pathogenic microorganisms as well as the production of
beneficial organisms.

In further conclusion, the classification scheme of microorganisms is highly flexible

upon development; therefore, continuous development and enlarging the spectrum of
kingdoms and classification systems of microorganisms are possible through thorough
investigations and discoveries with modern and future scientists such as botanists and
zoologists.
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