What is Schizophyta?
Schizophyta is a group that was included in the ancient system of classification. The group included both bacteria and cyanobacteria. It included organisms that were divided solely by means of fission. This group was not much known because it was soon reclassified into other groups.
What is Cyanophyta?
Cyanophyta, better known as Cyanobacteria, include gram-negative bacteria that are autotrophic in nature. The prokaryotic organisms lack membrane-bound nuclei and cellular organelles. They are also referred to as blue-green algae because of the colour they confer. However, the term algae are now used in the sense of eukaryotes.
They possess photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll, carotenoids and phycobilins that help in the process of photosynthesis. Some of the organisms in the group possess gas vesicles that help in buoyancy. They can be either unicellular or filamentous.
The filamentous cyanobacteria such as Nostoc and Anabaena help in nitrogen fixation. They have specialised cells called heterocysts with thick modified walls that help in the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. The cyanobacteria thrive in hot springs, cold lakes as well as desserts. They mainly exist in the form of plankton and benthos.
The cyanobacteria reproduce asexually, either by binary or multiple fission and fragmentation. The cyanobacteria can sometimes bloom in water bodies polluted by nitrogenous wastes. This leads to less or almost zero oxygen supply for other aquatic organisms, and they die.
The cyanobacteria produce several secondary metabolites that have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Biofuel production by these organisms is one of the biggest biotechnological applications these days.
Schizophyta vs. Cyanophyta
|
Schizophyta |
Cyanophyta |
| Description | |
| The ancient phylum Schizophyta included bacteria and cyanobacteria. | The phylum cyanobacteria comprise the prokaryotic and autotrophic gram-negative bacteria. |
| Mode of Division | |
| It included organisms that divide solely by means of fission. | It includes organisms that divide either by binary or multiple fission, or fragmentation. |
Explore BYJU’S Biology for more information.
Also Read:
- Bacterial Genetics – Conjugation, Transduction, Transformation
- Gram-Positive Bacteria – Characteristics And Structure
- What is the Difference Between Virus and Bacteria?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between blue-green algae and bacteria?
The main difference between cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and bacteria is that cyanobacteria possess chlorophyll pigments, while bacteria do not.
What is the main difference between algae and bacteria?
The main difference between algae and bacteria is that algae are eukaryotic, whereas bacteria are prokaryotic organisms.
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