Diversity of Life

Taxonomy
• The branch of biology dealing with the
classification of life.
• 1700s 2 kingdoms: plant and animal
• 1800s 3 kingdoms: plant, animal, and
protista
• 1950-1990s 5 kingdoms: plant, animal,
protista, fungi, monera
• Present: 6 kingdoms: eubacteria,
archaebacteria, protista, animal, plant,
fungi
The Three Domains Of Life.
Prokaryotes
• Traditionally all prokaryotes were
classified as Monerans Gr. 1. Single or
one
• Also known as bacteria (p.) or
bacterium (s.)
• Presently, the prokaryotes are divided
into two kingdoms.
1. K. Eubacteria

• Larger of the two kingdoms

• Live almost everywhere
• Vital for life functions and
industry
• Both helpful and harmful
2. K. Archaebacteria
• Comes from the Greek word archaio
which means “ancient”
• Believed by many to be the earliest
organisms to inhabit the earth
• All live in harsh environments
• 3 separate phyla:
1. Methane-producing
bacteria (methanogens)
• Intestinal tracts
of animals
• Bottoms of
swamps
• Used for sewage
treatment
2. Salt-loving bacteria
(Halophiles)
• Thrive in high
salinity waters
where no other
life can exist.
• Great Salt
Lake
• Dead Sea
3. Hot-acidic loving
(thermoacidophiles)
• Thrive at
temperatures as
great as 180ºF
and pHs as low as
2.
• Natural springs.
• Yellowstone
National Park
Facts about bacteria:
• Found everywhere
• Very small. Much smaller than any cell
in our body.
• No membrane-bound structures or
nucleus. (prokaryotes)
• Usually surrounded by a cell wall and a
capsule for additional protection.
Shapes:
Gram positive & Gram negative
Metabolic Needs
• Aerobic • Anaerobic
• Cannot live in the
• The most presence of
common type oxygen
• Cannot live • Gets energy
without oxygen through
fermentation
(CO2)
Heterotrophic bacteria
• Saprobes • Parasites
• Feed off the • Live on or in
remains of other living
dead plants and organisms.
animals. Often cause
Seldom cause disease
disease
Autotrophic bacteria
• Photoautotroph • Chemoautotroph
• Use sunlight to • Use inorganic
convert carbon chemical
dioxide into energy compounds to
• Ex. cyanobacteria convert carbon
dioxide into
energy.
Genetic material
• Nucleoid= a single
circular
chromosome
containing the DNA
and RNA.
• Endospore = tough
protective coat
that covers and
protects the
nuclear material.
Reproduction
• All reproduce asexually
• Usually through binary fission
• Under certain conditions, bacteria can
reproduce very quickly
– A small colony can double in 20
minutes.
– animation
PROTIST
Helpful bacteria
• Decompose food wastes
• Produce vitamins
• Produce antibodies
• Genetic engineering
• Decomposition of dead plants and
animals
• Industry & agriculture
Plant roots
• Found on the
roots of plants.
• Can be helpful in
„fixing‟ nitrogen
for plant use.
• Rhizobium
nodules on roots
of soybeans
• Are they living or non-living?
• Contain genetic material
• Lack organelles
Cannot reproduce unless inside a host
cell.
• The word virus comes from the Greek
word for POISON
• Cause many diseases.
How big is a virus?
• Much smaller than
bacterial cells.
• Scientists have only
recently, last 60
years, learned
anything about
viruses
• Classified
according to the
types of cells they
attack.
Virus structure:
• A center core of DNA or RNA
surrounded by a protein coat
called a capsid.
2 main types of viral
reproduction:
• LYTIC CYCLE • LYSOGENIC
1. Injects its CYCLE
nucleic acid 1. Coexists with
(DNA or RNA)
the cell
into the cell to
take over without
cellular destroying
activities. the host cell
Lytic cycle
Lysogenic cycle
• Direct the production of proteins by
the host cell.
• RETROVIRUS = A special type of
virus that can make DNA which will
produce new RNA, which, in turn,
makes proteins that produce new
viruses.
• Ex.
Diseases caused by
microorganisms:
• Pathogens: disease-causing
agents
• BACTERIAL DISEASE:
1) Damage cells and tissues
directly
2) Release toxins to interfere with
normal cellular activity
Common bacterial
diseases:

• Lyme disease
• Tetanus
• Strep throat
• Tuberculosis
• E. coli poisoning
Controlling bacterial
disease.
• ANTIBIOTICS
• 1928. Discovery
of penicillin by
Sir Alexander
Flemming
• Came from a
mold.
Common methods of
bacterial infection.
• Food & water
(E. coli)
• Coughing &
sneezing
• Sexually
transmitted.
• Carried by
insects
Food disease prevention
• Keep hands, and cooking
utensils clean
• Canning and preservation
techniques with food.
• Pasteurization
• Freezing
How do we prevent viral
diseases?

• Cannot be treated with ordinary antibiotics

• Vaccinations. The word comes from the
vacca Latin for “cow”.
• A vaccine is a weakened form of a virus
that is used to stimulate the immune
system to produce antiviral substances.
Edward Jenner (1749-
1823)
• British physician
• Developed the
first vaccine in
1798 for the
viral disease
smallpox.
• Considered the
“Father of
Immunology”
Common viral diseases:
• AIDS
• Measles
• Chickenpox
• Smallpox
• Influenza
• The common cold
• West Nile
• Polio
• Viral disease that is believed to have
originated in Egypt at least 2000
years ago.
• Characterized by pox lesions and
boils.
• Spread to the Americas by Spanish
conquistadors.
• Jenner‟s vaccine was developed after
observing a bovine disease: “cowpox”
Eradication of smallpox:

• In 1967 the World Health

Organization launched a global effort
to eradicate smallpox.
• 1978 : Last known case of smallpox.
• 1980 : W.H.O. declares the world free
of smallpox.
• Is there any smallpox virus left?
Viroids and Prions

• Viroid • Prion
• Small disease
• Small disease causing particle.
causing • Affects animals.
particle. • example:
• Affect plants
Assignment:

• Pages 493
• 1-10,11,12,13,19,22,23,24
• Page 495
• 1-12