STRAND 1: DIVERSITY, CHANGE AND

CONTINUITY

BIODIVERSITY AND CLASSIFICATION

OF MICRO-ORGANISMS

MICRO-ORGANISMS
Which kingdoms do they come from?
What does micro-organism mean?

VIRUSES
Are not part of the 5 kingdoms because they are considered nonliving.
STRUCTURE
Are extremely small
Most are symmetrical in shape
Have a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) covered by a protein coat.
Are acellular (no nucleus, ribosome or mitochondria)

CHARACTERISTICS
Parasites
Are host specific (only affect in one host)
Cause many diseases (are pathogenic)
Reproduce using the hosts DNA

BACTERIA
STRUCTURE
Are the smallest living organisms.
Unicellular
Occur in different shapes
Prokaryotic
Fig 1.1.6 pg 7 know labels and function.

CHARACTERISTICS
Some are AUTOTROPHIC (produce own food by means of
photosynthesis or chemosynthesis)
Most are HETEROTROPHIC and cant produce their own food.
Heterotrophic bacteria are either parasitic or saprophytes or live
mutualistic with other organisms

HOMEWORK
Activity 1.1.2 pg 8. Numbers 4 and 5.

PROTISTS
STRUCTURE
Some are animal-like (Protozoa) move using flagella or
pseudopodia.
There are many different types of protists with different body
structures.
The kingdom with the LARGEST DIVERSITY (more than 200 000
species)

CHARACTERISTICS

Eukaryotic
Most are aquatic
Some (e.g. Algae) are autotrophic; and others are heterotrophic
Some are unicellular and microscopic small; others are
multicellular and can be seen with the naked eye
Reproduction mainly by binary fission; some algae reproduce
sexually
Some are pathogenic.

FUNGI

FUNGI
STRUCTURE
There are many different types of structures in the kingdom.
Have cell walls
Heterotrophic
Reproduce by spores.

CHARACTERISTICS
Most fungi are SAPROPHYTES (live on dead, organic matter)
Some are PARASITIC
Some are MUTUALISTIC

ACTIVITY 1.1.2 PG 8. NUMBERS 4 AND 5.

ANSWERS

ROLE OF MICRO-ORGANISMS
Some are autotrophic and form the base of food chains.
Photosynthesis regulates the O 2/CO2 ratio
Many are decomposers and assist in nutrient recycling.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS (MUTUALISM)

NITROGEN (N2) FIXING BACTERIA
Live in soil or in nodules of roots.
Convert N2 from the air into nitrates in the soil
(Benefits the plant)
Bacteria in nodules obtain carbohydrates from the
plant (Bacteria benefit)
E. COLI AND THE HUMAN INTESTINE
Bacteria help to decay the undigested food and they help to
synthesise some vitamins (Human benefits)
Bacteria get food an a place to stay

HOMEWORK ACT 1.1.7 PG 19

Effects and management

of diseases caused by
different micro-organism groups

INFLUENZA (THE FLU) - VIRAL

CAUSE
The influenza virus. Transferred from person to person by inhaling
a droplet or direct contact. The virus mutates quickly.
EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS
Weakness, fatigue, muscle ache, headaches, fever, sneezing and
running nose.
Can lead to serious complication in children, elderly and those with
weakened immune systems. E.g. pneumonia.

MANAGEMENT
Bed rest
Extra fluids
Medications
When you need to see a doctor (pg 28)

CHOLERA - BACTERIAL
CAUSE
Bacterium Vibrio cholerae when swallowed with water or food that
has been contaminated with faeces.
SYMPTOMS
Most people show no symptoms but can spread the bacteria
About 25% have acute watery diarrhoea dehydration death
PREVENTION
Health education and proper sanitation facilities.
TREATMENT
Rehydration salts solution. Drips.
Antibiotics.

MALARIA PROTIST
CAUSE
Protozoan called Plasmodium and spread by the female Anopheles
mosquito.
SYMPTOMS
See pg 36
Symptoms only show up after 10-14 days and are similar to other
diseases.
Areas with malaria risk pg 36-37

PREVENTION
1. Get rid of mosquito- Drain water bodies, spray ponds and/or
spray rooms.
2. Prevent mosquitos biting- pg 38
3. Take preventative medication.
TREATMENT
Do rapid test to diagnose. Start medication as soon as malaria is
suspected.

HOMEWORK ACT 1.1.12 PG 40-41

*** Change Q4 to 3 methods of prevention not
treatment

BLIGHT
CAUSE
A fungus
SYMPTOMS
Leaves, fruit and tubers turn brown and rot. Brown lesions may occur
on the stems.
PREVENTION
Harvest potatoes early. Use resistant crop.
Spray plants with fungacide before the rainy season.
TREATMENT
Infected material should be buried or burnt, not made into compost

IMMUNITY
PASSIVE IMMUNITY- prevent micro-organisms (microbes) from entering
the body pg 46-47.
ACTIVE IMMUNITY: pg 47
NATURAL IMMUNITY- Born with antibodies to fight off certain microbes.
ACQUIRED IMMUNITY- Become immune during your lifetime.
Get mild infection antibodies are produced get better antibodies
remain if you get re-infected by the same disease, antibodies will fight it
off.
VACCINATIONS (artificial immunity)- weakened form of germ given to
induce an immune response.

ACTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSE OF PLANTS (PG48)

When microbes enter a plant, those cells die to prevent spreading
(hypersensitive response).
Salicylic acid (S.A) is produced at the infected site. S.A. is changed
to methyl S.A. and it is transported to other parts of the plant.
Methyl S.A. changes back to S.A. and it turns on the plant
defences, preventing further infection.

DRUGS AND RESISTANCE

Drugs (medication) kills the pathogen or slows down the disease.
When microbes are no longer affected by a drug they are referred
to as being resistant.
Resistance is caused by mutations.
Drug-resistance can be prevented by taking drugs as
recommended, not stopping treatment and by taking a combination
of drugs.

USEFUL MICRO-ORGANISMS
Micro-organisms can be used to produce vitamins, proteins,
hormones and antibiotics.
Penicillin (antibiotic) is derived from a fungus.
THE USE OF MICRO-ORGANISMS TO PRODUCE INSULIN.
See pg 51 flow-diagram
ACTIVITY 1.1.16 pg 50-51

TRADITIONAL TECHNOLOGIES
Yeast is a unicellular fungus.
Sugar + yeast alcohol + CO2
Used to make bread rise and in making alcohol (pg 52.)
Lactic acid bacteria are used in the making of yoghurt and cheese.