Thiomargarita namibiensis
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| - | A '''microorganism''' or '''microbe''' is an [[organism]] that is [[unicellular]] or lives in a colony of cellular organisms. The study of microorganisms is called [[microbiology]], a subject that began with [[Anton van Leeuwenhoek]]'s discovery of microorganisms in 1675, using a [[microscope]] of his own design. | + | '''''Thiomargarita namibiensis''''' is a [[Gram-negative]] [[coccus|coccoid]] [[Proteobacteria|Proteobacterium]], found in the ocean sediments of the [[continental shelf]] of [[Namibia]]. It is the largest [[bacterium]] ever discovered, as a rule {{convert|0.1|-|0.3|mm|µm |
| - | + | |abbr=on}} in diameter, but sometimes attaining {{convert|0.75|mm|µm|abbr=on}}. | |
| - | Microorganisms are very diverse; they include [[bacteria]], [[fungi]], [[archaea]], and [[protist]]s; microscopic [[plants]] ([[green algae]]); and [[Micro-animals|animals]] such as [[plankton]] and the [[planarian]]. Some microbiologists also include [[virus]]es, but others consider these as non-living. Most microorganisms are [[unicellular]] (single-celled), but this is not universal, since some [[multicellular]] organisms are [[microscopic]], while some unicellular protists and bacteria, like ''[[Thiomargarita namibiensis]]'', are [[macroscopic]] and visible to the naked eye. | + | |
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| - | Microorganisms live in all parts of the [[biosphere]] where there is liquid [[water]], including [[soil]], [[hot spring]]s, on the [[ocean]] floor, high in the [[atmosphere]] and deep inside rocks within the Earth's [[crust]]. Microorganisms are critical to nutrient recycling in [[ecosystems]] as they act as [[decomposer]]s. As some microorganisms can [[nitrogen fixation|fix nitrogen]], they are a vital part of the [[nitrogen cycle]], and recent studies indicate that airborne microbes may play a role in [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and weather. | + | |
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| - | Microbes are also exploited by people in [[biotechnology]], both in traditional [[Fermentation (food)|food and beverage preparation]], and in modern technologies based on [[genetic engineering]]. However, [[pathogenic microbes]] are harmful, since they invade and grow within other organisms, causing [[disease]]s that kill people, other animals and plants. | + | |
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| - | ==See also== | + | |
| - | * [[Bacterium]] | + | |
| - | * [[Biological warfare]] | + | |
| - | * [[Culture collection]] | + | |
| - | * [[Cyanobacteria]] | + | |
| - | * [[Fungi]] | + | |
| - | * [[Microbial intelligence]] | + | |
| - | * [[Nanobacterium]] | + | |
| - | * [[Petri dish]] | + | |
| - | * [[Prokaryote]] | + | |
| - | * [[Protozoa]] | + | |
| - | * [[Soil contamination]] | + | |
| - | * [[Staining (biology)|Staining]] | + | |
| - | * [[Virus]] | + | |
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Thiomargarita namibiensis is a Gram-negative coccoid Proteobacterium, found in the ocean sediments of the continental shelf of Namibia. It is the largest bacterium ever discovered, as a rule Template:Convert in diameter, but sometimes attaining Template:Convert.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Thiomargarita namibiensis" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
