In ancient times they were only distinguished within the kingdoms of living beings animals and plants, this was due to the fact that man had not yet carried out an in-depth study and had not been able to observe many of the characteristics that distinguish the other kingdoms and even less if he himself did not have the necessary studies. We invite you to continue reading, to learn a little more about the 5 kingdoms of living beings.
the five kingdoms
The study of the cell at a microscopic, submicroscopic level, advances in biochemistry and genetics, have allowed us to discover that certain organisms have traits that prevent them from being included in either of these two large groups; animals and plants. That is the reason why the other kingdoms of living beings were created and it is currently accepted that there are five that can be studied.
Although these kingdoms characterize living beings, different characteristics can also be observed between them, these are:
The kingdom of monera
Also called prokaryotes, they basically consist of a cell membrane and a cytoplasm with a series of inclusions, they have a single chromosome that is not delimited within a membrane forming a nucleus, they lack microtubules and centrioles, they reproduce asexually or sexually, although in this case, in a totally different way to how eukaryotic cells do it, this kingdom comprises two types of organisms; bacteria and blue-green algae.
- The bacteria: They consist of a cell body and a wall that covers the cell membrane on the outside and is rigid enough for bacteria to maintain a certain shape, bacteria can have a fine and numerous structure called hairs, which apparently are necessary for the sexual reproduction or a kind of flagella with a different structure from that of eukaryotic organisms, but that perform the same function.
The main groups of bacteria are the following:
-
- Gram positive rods.
- Gram-positive cocci.
- photosynthetic bacteria.
- Gram negative cocci.
- Gram negative bacilli.
- Chemoautotrophic bacteria.
- Spirilla.
- Mycoplasmas.
- Chlamydia.
- spirochetes.
- Blue-green algae: These are photosynthetic organisms endowed with chlorophyll of the same type as that of plants and other pigments, such as carotenoids, they also use water as a source of electrons to carry out photosynthesis, they are endowed with a cell wall surrounded by a mucilaginous substance, they are usually solitary and being grouped in long filaments, these algae are characterized by their great resistance and can grow in all types of water, including hot springs.
The kingdom of the protists
They are unicellular organisms from the true nucleus, mitochondria and microtubules, which can present hilia or flagella, their systematic position is complex and in the past they were included in the other kingdoms of living beings, as their simplest representatives, however , it is more convenient to gather them all under the same denomination.
This represents some common features of the animal kingdom, in a historical stage within zoology they include the protozoa, a name that today lacks systematic value, since for many zoology only includes the animal kingdom, but what serves to identify them. This kingdom is divided into three types:
- Pyrrophytes: They are very primitive organisms that still retain certain characteristics of the cells where they originate, these organisms can cause the death of some fish and molluscs, they can also cause great damage to marine life or to mussel and oyster farms.
- Euglenophytes: They are small unicellular algae, without the use of a rigid wall, so their shape is variable, when it is destroyed, this algae continues to live, but becomes a heterotrophic organism.
- Chrysophytes: They also receive the name of golden algae, due to the yellowish color they present, they have a cell wall formed by two overlapping walls, many times they have a structure on the outside, which are characteristics of each species, most of these belong to the so-called marine and freshwater diatoms, which play an important role in the marine ecosystem and is a fundamental element for plankton.
the mushroom kingdom
They are organisms formed by a set of tubular filaments, which when intertwined create a special structure, feed on organic and elaborated matter that they obtain from other organisms or from decomposing organic waste.
Although most of them are microscopic species, the best known to most people are those that have colorful living bodies, which are called mushrooms, and are sometimes edible.
Although the History of ecology has included them in botany, since they are considered ancient vegetables, the inability to carry out photosynthesis, due to the lack of chlorophyll, is a sufficient trait to differentiate them from plants.
The role they play in nature is very important, they contribute to the incorporation of nutrients into the environment, they are transformed into basic constituents to return to the earth and thus favor plants, just as plants also take advantage of animals.
Many have economic importance due to their use in industrial fermentation processes and others as edible species, while others are poisonous and sometimes deadly.
the plant kingdom
They are formed by organisms characterized by being formed thanks to photosynthesis, which they carry out with the help of chloroplasts, they can reach a large size and be very long-lived, one of the most important characteristics is that their cells are protected by a resistant wall to be able to feed of the nutrients dissolved in the substrate, do not have the ability to carry out active displacement.
Their reproduction is the same as that of the other kingdoms of living beings and they benefit from other elements to spread, such as the seed that must be sown, the wind that is loaded with oxygen, the water that is vital for photosynthesis. and the animals that move them to other places.
The animal kingdom
They are those organisms incapable of synthesizing their own food, that is, all heterotrophs, in addition to that fundamental trait, the difference between animals and plants, is that animals have a cell membrane, it lacks a rigid wall.
The need to search for food has made the action of moving essential in general for these organisms, thus animals have developed a whole series of elements destined to facilitate locomotion, such as an element of an internal or external support skeleton that holds it and a mechanical system that allows the mobility of that skeleton, similar to the Characteristics of the human being.
This fact has determined the appearance of the other systems, which control the body of an animal, the reproduction of the animal kingdom can be asexual or sexual.
