What is the classification of bacteria?
Classification of bacteria is the process of distinguishing types of bacteria apart and their grouping according to shared characteristics. Such classification is performed within the internationally accepted system of biological taxonomy or science of classification organisms. During the classification of bacteria, a number of things, especially RNA sequences, are considered, including shape, biochemistry and the characteristics of the outer membrane, among other things.
While there are different views of the way the organisms should be classified, the current predominant system divides all life into three domains. Bacteria form one of these domains. They exhibit an extreme degree of diversity and, by number, make up a large majority of known species and exceed all multicellular organisms on Earth. Classification of bacteria can be difficult due to a number of factors, especially the absence of complex structures found in the more advanced organism, as well as the tendency of bacteria to transmit DNA segments.
bacteriologists use a number of techniques in the classification of bacteria.The shape is the easiest way to separate bacteria from each other and these organisms can show, among other things, a number of shapes, including rods, spirals and spheres. However, the shape does not necessarily have an exclusive characteristic and bacteria that are grouped into considerably different classifications can have similar shapes.
Other morphological features such as size may vary significantly from species to species and typical grouping can also help in classification. Many species tend to form groups of individual cells that may vary considerably. The presence of external structures, such as small tentacle structures called flagella, can also help distinguish the species of bacteria.
Another key tool in the classification of bacteria is the test known as a gram of Stain test, named after a microbiologist of the 19th century. This test quantifies the bacteria according to the thickness of their external membrane. Gram negative bacteria have a very thin membraneAnd a gram of positive bacteria have a stronger membrane.
factors such as metabolism and other biochemical differences are another tool for classification of bacteria. Bacteria metabolize a wide range of different compounds and specific compounds or compounds used or converted by specific bacteria can help in its identification and classification. Analysis of other biochemical data can also help this process.
Advances in molecular analysis techniques have allowed bacteriologists to distinguish bacteria according to differences in RNA as well as specific gene sequences. Another analysis of the total amount of individual RNA and DNA proteins and conditions in which they are present provides additional means for classification. Using some or all these techniques, bacteriologists are able to classify bacteria by species and group similar species together.