How Scientists Classify Micro-organisms and Other Organisms You know that animal species belong to the animal kingdom, There are other kingdoms, too. For example, all plant species belong to a kingdom called Plantae. They are divided into groups such as coniferous trees (including pines and cedars), flowering plants (including grasses, roses, and maple trees), and ferns. ‘The Fungi kingdom is another large grouping of organisms. It includes mushrooms, moulds, and yeasts. Most of the organisms in these kingdoms are multicellular. Most micro-organisms are made up of only one cell. Biologists use this fact to help them classify micro-organisms into two other kingdoms. One kingdom includes bacteria. They belong to the kingdom Monera. (‘Monera” comes from a Greek word that means single or one.) ‘The other kingdom includes all the organisms that don't ft into the others. The kingdom is called Protista. ‘Most of its members are one-celled. Some have animal- like features. Others have plantlike features. A few species even have features that are both! /@ \ \ | Monera , (at least 2500 species) ‘no nucleus bacteria, cyanobacteria have chlorophyll *° Unicellular organisms with * Examples: Sour-milk bacteria, colon bacteria, Lyme disease * Features: Cell membrane, genetic material scattered in cytoplasm, plantlike species Biologists invented the five-kingdom classification system in 1969, so itis still fairly new. Some scientists think it is not the most effective way to organize living things. What do you think, and why? Protista (at least 60 000 species) * Most are unicellular * Examples: Amebas, diatoms, algae Features: All have a cell membrane and nucleus, plant-like species have a cell wall and chlorophyll &o D>