[EnvThes] Superkingdom or domain of prokaryotic microorganisms containing all prokaryotes that are not members of the Archaea. Distinguished from the Archaea on the basis of molecular phylogenetics and biochemistry. The Bacteria is an ex­tremely metabolically and ecologically diverse group of unicellular microorgan­isms, free-living in soil and water or as parasites and saprophytes of plants and animals, the parasitic forms causing many familiar infectious diseases. Bacteria typically possess cell walls, and reproduce by binary ﬁssion or asexual endospores and also transfer genetic material by sexual processes (conjugation) and by virus (bacteriophage)-mediated transfer (transduction).
Bacteria
Coliform bacteria
Biosphere
Cyanobacteria