Subject Topic

Science

CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING ORGANISMS

SUBMITTED TO Dr Shafiq ur Rahman SUBMITTED BY Muhammad Rizwan Mian faizan Shakeel (2012-1425) (2012-1448)

Institute of Research and Education Punjab University Of Lahore

CLASSIFICATION OF LIVING ORGANISMS

In this chapter you will learn 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Concept of classification and its need. Micro-organisms as a diverse group of living organisms. Nature of viruses and names of diseases caused by viruses. Structure of bacteria and names of bacterial diseases. Importance of bacteria and different methods of food preservation.

1.1

CLASSIFICATION

Organisms
An individual living thing that can react to stimuli, reproduce, grow and maintain homeostasis. It can be avirus, bacterium, protist, fungus, plant or an animal.

Living organisms are arranged in different groups due to similarities and difference. The basic unit of unit classification is species.

SPECIES: A group of closely resembling organisms. For example cat and rabbit are two species. Need: The number is so large that each and every organism can't be studied separately. To
make the study convenient, easier, and quicker, we need classification. Therefore classification of organisms is done by making groups.

1.2 MICRO ORGANISMS

A microorganism (also spelled as microorganism) or microbe is an organism that is microscopic (too small to be seen by the human eye). There are different types of microorganism which are cyanobacteria, bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses.

Micro-organisms differ from one another with regard to structure and mode of nutrition.

1.3

VIRUSES

Viruses are so small that they cannot be observed with light microscope but can be studied with electron microscope and biochemical tests.

Types
Viruses of different shapes, some are rounded, a few are rod-shaped and few polyhedral while some look tadpoles.

Tadpole

Polyhedral

Round

Rod-Like

Structure and Function

Viruses are small obligate intracellular parasites, which by definition contain either a RNA or DNA genome surrounded by a protective, virus-coded protein coat. Viruses may be viewed as mobile genetic elements, most probably of cellular origin and characterized by a long coevolution of virus and host. For propagation viruses depend on specialized host cells supplying the complex metabolic and biosynthetic machinery of eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. A complete virus particle is called a virion. The main function of the virion is to deliver its DNA or RNA genome into the host cell so that the genome can be expressed (transcribed and translated) by the host cell. The viral genome, often with associated basic proteins, is packaged inside a symmetric protein capsid. The nucleic acid-associated protein, called nucleoprotein, together with the genome, forms the nucleocapsid. In enveloped viruses, the nucleocapsid is surrounded by a lipid bilayer derived from the modified host cell membrane and studded with an outer layer of virus envelope glycoproteins.

Diseases

Sometimes the virus and human immune system can establish a balance. However when the human immune system is weak due to various reasons, the viruses can break the balance and cause problems, became so called opportunist pathogen. For example, the BK polyomavirus is presented in the kidney of ~80% population, however it only cause nephritis in limited population. But that don't mean all viruses are not harmful, or opportunist pathogens, some viruses can cause serious diseases, including AIDS, SARS, Hepatitis, Herpes Simplex etc.

List of diseases caused by viruses:

Disease Name Influenza Adenovirus Infections Respiratory Syncytial Disease Rhinovirus Infections Herpes Simplex

Virus Type RNA DNA RNA RNA DNA

Organs Affected Respiratory Tract Lungs, Eyes Respiratory Tract

Transmission Droplets Droplets, Contact Droplets Droplets

Upper Respiratory Tract Droplets,Contact Skin,Pharynx, Genital organs Skin, Nervous System Contact Droplets, Contact

Chicken pox ( Varicella) DNA Measles (Rubeola) German Measles ( Rubella) Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis) Small Pox (Variola) Warts Kawasaki Disease Yellow Fever Dengue Fever Hepatitis A Hepatitis B RNA RNA RNA DNA DNA RNA RNA RNA DNA

Respiratory Tract, Skin Droplets, Contact Skin Salivary Glands, Blood Skin, Blood Skin Liver, Blood Blood, Muscles Liver Liver Droplets, Contact Droplets Contact, Droplets ? Mosquito ( Aedes Aegypti) Mosquito ( Aedes Aegypti ) Food, Water, Contact Contact with body Fluids