Kingdom Monera

Monera is a prokaryote-dominated biological kingdom (particularly bacteria). These are the world’s earliest known microbes. The nucleus does not contain their DNA. They are single-celled creatures that like to live in a damp environment. They can be found in thermal springs, deep oceans, and as parasites on certain animals. Monerans do not have membrane-bound organelles.

For the first time in 1866, Ernst Haeckel proposed Monera as a phylum. Then, Édouard Chatton raised  phylum to the level of kingdom in the year1925. 

Kingdom Monera Explanation

All prokaryotes, or unicellular creatures without nuclear membranes, belong to the Kingdom Monera. Eubacteria and archaebacteria are two phylogenetically separate families within this biological kingdom. Eubacteria and archaebacteria are genetically distinct from eukaryotes (organisms with nuclear membranes: protists, plants, animals (invertebrates and vertebrates), and fungi.

The species found in the kingdom Monera have been separated into two domains, Archaea and Bacteria, according to Carl Woese’s three-domain method of taxonomy, which represents the evolutionary history of life (with Eukarya as the third domain). Furthermore, the taxon Monera is paraphyletic (it does not include all offspring of their most recent common ancestor), as Archaea and Eukarya are now thought to be closer cousins than Bacteria. The phrase “moneran” is a colloquial term for members of this group, and it is still occasionally used (together with the term “prokaryote”) to refer to someone belonging to either domain.

In comparison to eukaryotes, Monerans have a comparatively basic structure and reproductive cycle. They don’t have nuclei or complicated organelles. Internal membranes are used to house specialised components such as photosynthetic apparatus. Moneran genetic material is likewise rather straightforward. Instead of the complex chromosomes present in eukaryotes, they contain tiny bacterial chromosomes and plasmids. 

Characteristics of Monera: The following are some of Monera’s most notable characteristics:

• Monerans are single-celled creatures.
• They have 70S ribosomes in them.
• A nuclear membrane does not bind the DNA; hence it is naked.
• Mitochondria, lysosomes, plastids, Golgi bodies, endoplasmic reticulum, centrosome, and other organs are deficient.
• Asexual reproduction is accomplished by binary fission or budding.
• The cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan and is brittle.
• The motility organ is the flagellum.
• These are decomposers for the environment.
• They display several feeding mechanisms such as autotrophic, parasitic, heterotrophic, and saprophytic.

Archaebacteria

Archaebacteria are thought to be the world’s earliest living creatures. They belong to the Monera kingdom and are categorised as bacteria because, under a microscope, they look like bacteria. Apart from that, they are not related to prokaryotes in any way. They do, however, share a few traits with eukaryotes. Extremophiles are organisms that can readily survive in extreme environments such as the ocean’s depths or volcanic vents.

Characteristics of Archaebacteria: The following are some of archaebacteria’s most notable characteristics:

• Only archaebacteria can conduct methanogenesis because they are obligate or facultative anaerobes, meaning they thrive in the absence of oxygen.
• The Archaebacteria’s cell membranes are made up of lipids.
• The strong cell wall of Archaebacteria grants them shape and durability. Under hypotonic circumstances, it also prevents the cell from bursting.
• Pseudomurein is a component of the cell wall that protects archaebacteria against the effects of Lysozyme. Lysozyme is an enzyme produced by the host’s immune system that dissolves harmful bacteria’s cell walls.
• Nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, and chloroplast are not membrane-bound organelles in these cells. All of the substances essential for nourishment and metabolism are found in its thick cytoplasm.
• Extremophiles are organisms that can live in a wide range of settings. They can live in both acidic and alkaline aquatic environments, as well as at temperatures over boiling.
• They have the ability to endure pressures of more than 200 atmospheres.
• Because they include plasmids with antibiotic resistance enzymes, Archaebacteria are resistant to key antibiotics.
• Asexual reproduction, often known as binary fission, is the mode of reproduction.
• They carry out one-of-a-kind gene transcription.
• They diverged from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, based on changes in their ribosomal RNA.

Types of Archaebacteria: The phylogenetic connection of archaebacteria is used to classify them. The following are the primary kinds of Archaebacteria:

• Crenarchaeota: The Crenarchaeota are a group of Archaea that exist in a range of habitats. They are unconcerned about extreme heat or hot humidity. They contain unique proteins that allow them to function at temperatures of up to 230°C. Deep-sea vents and hot springs, as well as other hot-water settings, are home to them. 
• Euryarchaeota: Unlike any other living creature on the planet, they can thrive in very alkaline environments and create methane. These organisms include methanogens and halophiles.
• Korarchaeota: All three are thought to be descendants of the same progenitor. These are the world’s oldest living species, according to legend.  Hyperthermophiles are among them.
• Thaumarchaeota: Archaea that oxidise ammonia are among them.

Importance of Archaebacteria: The following points will help you understand the significance of archaebacteria:

• Scientists have been forced to reexamine the usual notion of species because of Archaebacteria. Species are a group of organisms that share gene flow. The archaebacteria have cross-species gene flow.
• Methanogens, or microorganisms that can produce methane, are Archaebacteria. They degrade organic waste to release methane, which may subsequently be utilised for cooking and illumination.

Eubacteria

The genuine bacteria, often known as Eubacteria, have a poor rep. They’re thought to be disease-causing agents. Every day, new solutions are released that claim to be able to eliminate these minute yet harmful critters. Only a small number of these unicellular creatures cause sickness in reality. The rest play a variety of crucial roles in nature. Photoautotrophs, saprophytes, and symbionts are all examples of Eubacteria.

The Eubacteria are a large and varied category of bacteria. Species have evolved to adapt to a variety of environments and lifestyles. They are frequently categorised according to their oxygen requirements and the sort of nutrients they consume.

Nutrition: Many of the most well-known eubacteria are heterotrophs, which means they require sustenance from other organisms. The bulk of heterotrophs are saprophytes (those that devour dead matter) or parasites (those that survive on or within another organism at the cost of their host).

Aside from heterotrophic bacteria, there exist a variety of autotrophic bacteria that can manufacture their own food. These autotrophs can be photosynthetic or chemosynthetic, and their synthetic processes may or may not utilise oxygen. The biggest group of photosynthetic eubacteria is the cyanobacteria. Because the cells of these bacteria are generally considerably bigger than those of other bacteria, they were formerly categorised as algae rather than bacteria. Blue-green algae is still a term used to describe cyanobacteria. These eubacteria have colour molecules such as chlorophyll a, which is the same chlorophyll found in higher plants. The pigments of cyanobacteria are not housed within membrane-bound chloroplasts, as they are in plants.

Oxygen Requirements: Eubacteria may breathe either aerobically or anaerobically. Fermentation is a kind of respiration used by anaerobes. Some anaerobes may survive both in the presence and absence of oxygen. These organisms are known as facultative anaerobes. Some people are unconcerned by the existence of oxygen, whereas others have two respiratory systems, one that needs oxygen and the other that does not. In the presence of oxygen, the other category of anaerobes, the obligate anaerobes, are poisoned.

Eubacteria are divided into several phyla. Each bacterial phylum has species with distinct characteristics. Here are several examples:

• The majority of gram-negative bacteria are classified as proteobacteria. Photosynthetic forebears are supposed to have given origin to them. Alphaproteobacteria, betaproteobacteria, gammaproteobacteria, deltaproteobacteria, and epsilon proteobacteria are the five types of proteobacteria.
• A blue-green pigment distinguishes cyanobacteria. They perform photosynthesis in the same way as plants and algae do. Many of these bacteria are useful in agricultural regions because they can fix nitrogen in the soil.
• Photosynthetic bacteria make up the Chlorobi phylum. Green Sulphur bacteria make up this phylum. Chlorobi uses organic substances like carbohydrates and acids to decrease carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. The rods, spirals, cocci, and budding morphologies of members of this phylum vary widely.
• Members of the Chloroflexi family are non-sulfur green bacteria that can undertake photosynthesis.
• Members of the Chlamydia family are pathogenic gram-negative cocci with a distinct life cycle. They are spread from person to person by direct touch or through respiratory airborne pathways.
• Planctomycetes are gram-negative bacteria that are in the process of growing. Although their DNA resembles that of bacteria, their cell wall resembles that of archaea. Furthermore, some of them have organelles that are comparable to those seen in eukaryotes.
• Bacteroidetes are anaerobic bacteria that live in the human gastrointestinal system, mouth cavity, and oral cavity. They’re found in faeces and can lead to infection if you have surgery or a puncture wound.
• Fusobacteria are anaerobic bacteria with pleomorphic or spindle-shaped cells.
• Spirochaetes are coiled spirochaetes that resemble metal springs. They’ve been flagellar. Their flagella use axial filaments to help them move around. 

Conclusion

Hence it can be concluded that Monerans are extremely beneficial creatures. They are beneficial to the soil and play a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle. They’re also used in the manufacture of various foods and medications. Methanogens are vital in the sewage treatment process.