Microorganisms are incredibly diverse and play essential roles in ecosystems and human health. They can be classified into several types, each with unique characteristics and functions.
Bacteria, for instance, are single-celled prokaryotes that come in various shapes and are found in nearly every habitat on Earth. Archaea, similar to bacteria in form but genetically distinct, thrive in extreme environments.
Protozoa are eukaryotic and often motile, hunting for food in aquatic habitats.
Algae, the photosynthetic organisms of the micro world, produce a significant portion of the Earth’s oxygen.
Fungi, ranging from yeasts to molds, are decomposers that recycle nutrients back into the environment.
Viruses, though not technically living organisms, can replicate only within a host and are responsible for a variety of diseases.
Lastly, multicellular animal parasites, like helminths, live and feed on or within another organism, causing harm to their host.
Each of these microorganisms has a role to play, whether it’s supporting life processes or challenging them, and understanding them is crucial for advancing medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology
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