If fungi and bacteria contain cell walls why are they not classified as plants?

Answer 1

At one time they were classified as plants based on that one characteristic. Today, many other traits are taken into consideration. They do not carry on photosynthesis is a main reason for not classifying them as plants. Another is that bacteria are single celled and not multicellular. Their cell walls are also lacking cellulose. Fungi are also non photosynthetic and their cell walls are constructed of a material called chitin. Basically there are more differences separating them then similarities. Also bacteria do not contain a nucleus.

Answer 2

First off, not all bacteria have cell walls. Bacteria are prokariatic (which do not contain a true nucleus) cells where as plant cells are eukariotic, like animals, protists, funfi etc... Fungi was once placed into the plantae kingdom but is separated due to many factors including differential life cycles and lack of photosynthesis.

Answer 3

They have other structures that do not fit within the plant classification (by the way, bacteria don't have cell walls either, just cell membranes -- they are differentiated from eukaryotes by the thickness of their membranes and the amount of the protein peptidoglycan contained in those membranes) As mentioned by others here, fungi do not live by photosynthesis like plants, but tend to be saprophytic -- they live off the decaying remains of other plants and animals. So if there are organisms that fit right in between plants and animals, fungi would have to be it.

Answer 4

There's SO MUCH Creationism can't account for. As for the bacteria, a creature that can survive on what killed its ancestors isn't an example of speciation? Then how about the primroses, Tragopogon, Hemp Nettle, etc., ad almost infinitum? We SEE speciation occurring, but they choose to ignore it. They claim that Lucy still has Chimpanzee characteristics (which isn't true - Chimps have retained some characteristics that we haven't), then claim that there's no transitional. But why are we adults arguing with children? (Have no fear - I think it'll be more than a few trillion years before you're no longer an unbeliever - by the fact that entropy stops increasing.)

Answer 5

Eukaryotic plants have cellulose cell walls (with may other chemicals in them like lignin) and CHLOROPHYLL pigment inside chloroplasts. Thus they are photosynthetic autotrophic producers, aka PLANTS

The cell wall of prokaryotic monerans like bacteria is made up of peptidoglycin. Some bacteria have chlorophyll and can do photosynthesis, but lack chloroplasts.

Fungus are eukaryotic, but lack chlorophyll and chloroplast. Cell wall often made up of chitin!

Answer 6

Plants, in the current definition, require photosynthesis. Fungi and bacteria do not have chlorophyll, and are thus unable to use light to combine water and carbon dioxide to produce sugar and starch.

Answer 7

Plants conduct photosynthesis and make their own food and are usually multi-celled. Fungi don't make their own food and depend on rotting vegetation/etc. to grow. Bacteria are mainly single-celled and most depend on an outside food source.

Answer 8

no xylem or phloem. Fungi are made out of the same material that insects are made out of. Mushrooms hunt a lot after plants and they are undectable usually. Mushrooms have spores and not seeds. Its life cyle is completly different then plants. Mushrooms do not have cytoplasm or have stomata cells.

Answer 9

Fish and lizards do not have cell walls why are they not classified as animals? Same answer...they are not similar enough to be classified in the same kingdom.

Answer 10

If people in prison have cell walls, why aren't they classified as plants?