Scribd
Upload
74 views3 pages

Introduction 1

Microorganisms are tiny living organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope and can cause diseases as well as food spoilage. They are classified into five major groups: Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, Fungi, and Algae, and can be unicellular or multicellular. The study of microorganisms is known as Microbiology, and while some microbes are harmful, others are beneficial in food production.

Uploaded by

arifiqbal428
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
74 views3 pages

Introduction 1

Microorganisms are tiny living organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope and can cause diseases as well as food spoilage. They are classified into five major groups: Bacteria, Viruses, Protozoa, Fungi, and Algae, and can be unicellular or multicellular. The study of microorganisms is known as Microbiology, and while some microbes are harmful, others are beneficial in food production.

Uploaded by

arifiqbal428
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Introduction to Microorganisms

Many living organisms are present in soil, water, and air around us. Some
of these organisms are so small that we cannot see them with the naked
eye. We need a magnifying instrument called a microscope to see these
extremely small organisms. These extremely small organisms are known
as micro-organisms (micro means extremely small, and organisms means
living beings).

s
se
We can now say that:

s
Those organisms which are too small to be seen without a microscope are
called micro-organisms.
la
Thus, micro-organisms cannot be seen with the naked eye. Though we
C
cannot see the micro-organisms around us, we become aware of their
er

presence through their actions, such as spoiling our food and causing
nk

diseases like:
- Common cold
La

- Malaria
- Skin infections
rif

- Typhoid
- Tuberculosis
A

- Tetanus
- Cholera
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Smallpox
- AIDS
Some micro-organisms grow on our food and cause food poisoning.

However, some micro-organisms are also useful to us. For example,


certain bacteria help in making food products such as curd and cheese.
Microorganisms are also called Microbes. The branch of science that deals
with the study of microorganisms is called Microbiology, and scientists who
study them are called Microbiologists.

s
se
Classification of Microorganisms:

s
In 1969, R.H. Whittaker divided organisms into five kingdoms:

la
1. Monera - Bacteria, blue-green algae, etc.
2. Protista - Amoeba, Euglena, etc.
C
3. Fungi - Yeasts, molds, etc.
er

4. Plantae - Small algae (found in Protista) and big algae (found in Plantae)
nk

5. Animalia - Microorganisms generally do not belong to this kingdom.


La

Types of Organisms:
Organisms are classified into two types:
rif

1. Unicellular organisms - Made up of a single cell (e.g., bacteria, amoeba,


etc.).
A

2. Multicellular organisms - Made up of many cells (e.g., humans, cats,


dogs, etc.).

Major Groups of Microorganisms:


Micro-organisms are classified into five major groups:
1. Bacteria
2. Viruses
3. Protozoa
4. Fungi
5. Algae

Each of these groups has unique characteristics and plays different roles in
nature, both beneficial and harmful.

s
s se
la
C
er
nk
La
rif
A

You might also like