Answer to Question #117647 in Microbiology for kwame krypton

Question

Actinomycetes are usually classed within the same taxonomic family as bacteria but in many aspects of their morphology and growth patterns resemble fungi. Explain.

Answer 1

Actinomycetes are huge group of primarily filamentous soil bacteria. Cells of actinomycetes lack a nucleus or nuclear membrane, in contrast to the fungal cells where the nucleus is present. Instead, cells of actinomycetes, like other prokaryotes, possess a single chromosome composed solely of DNA. Cells of actinomycetes form filaments that thinner than fungal hyphae. Also actinomycetes form radial fungi-like colonies on agar plates, but they are smaller than fungal colonies. Both fungi and actinomycetes produce spores. These two groups of microorganisms have the same ecological function – decomposers.