The key difference between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta is that Schizophyta is an old group in classification that consists of two classes as Schizomycetes (bacteria) and Myxophyceae (blue green algae) while Cyanophyta is a new group in classification that consists of only Myxophyceae (blue green algae).
Bacteria and cyanobacteria are two groups of prokaryotic organisms. Most bacteria do not contain chlorophyll. But cyanobacteria do contain chlorophyll a, which is a pigment that gives colour to cyanobacteria. Therefore, cyanobacteria are also known as blue green algae. Cyanobacteria are also capable of photosynthesis due to the presence of chlorophyll a. Schizophyta and Cyanophyta are two groups in classification that consist of bacteria and cyanobacteria.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Schizophyta
3. What is Cyanophyta
4. Similarities – Schizophyta and Cyanophyta
5. Schizophyta vs Cyanophyta in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Schizophyta vs Cyanophyta
What is Schizophyta?
Schizophyta is an old group in classification which has two classes as Schizomycetes (bacteria) and Myxophyceae (blue green algae). Schizomycetes is a class of minute bacteria. These bacteria probably show saprophytic or parasitic habits. Schizomycetes bacteria consist of single cells that are spherical, oblong, or cylindrical in shape. The cells of these bacteria are usually about 0.001 millimeter in diameter. Schizomycetes bacteria do not contain chlorophyll. They divide by bipartition. Species in Schizomycetes can be commonly found in rivers, ponds, ditches, sea, bogs, drains, refuse heaps, soils, liquid-containing organic matter, milk, wine, etc. They are also present in humans and animals as parasites. Moreover, Schizomycetes bacterial species may cause tuberculosis, typhoid fever, cholera in humans.
Figure 01: Schizophyta
The other class that belongs to this group is Myxophyceae. They are normally known as blue green algae (cyanobacteria). Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic bacteria. Some of them are nitrogen-fixing. Cyanobacteria live in a variety of environments, including moist soils, water, or in a symbiotic relationship with fungi (lichens). Exposure to cyanobacteria sometimes may cause health effects in humans such as conjunctivitis, rhinitis, earache, sore throat, swollen lips, atypical pneumonia, and hay fever-like syndrome.
What is Cyanophyta?
Cyanophyta is a new group in classification that consists only of Myxophyceae (blue green algae). Blue green algae are also called cyanobacteria. It is a phylum of gram-negative bacteria. Cyanobacteria produce their own food through photosynthesis using chlorophyll a pigment. These bacteria are spherical, rod or spiral cells. They mostly reproduce through binary fission or fragmentation. Cyanobacteria may be unicellular, colonial, or filamentous. They have typically mastered all types of environments, including freshwater, seawater, marshes, moist rocks, trunks of trees, moist soils, hot springs or frozen waters.
Cyanobacteria cells are much larger and more elaborate than normal bacteria. They are prokaryotic in nature. Furthermore, cyanobacteria can form large-sized pale coloured thick-walled cells called heterocysts. Heterocyst contains nitrogenase enzyme. The main function of heterocyst is nitrogen fixation.
Figure 02: Cyanophyta
Cyanobacteria often produce a toxin known as cyanotoxin. Cyanotoxins can make people and animals sick. However, there are no remedies to counterattack the effects. The best way to prevent contact with these toxins is to refrain from using scummy water.
What are the Similarities Between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta?
- Schizophyta and Cyanophyta are two groups of prokaryotic species.
- Both groups have bacteria.
- The species of both groups have a peptidoglycan cell wall, naked DNA, 70S ribosome, and membrane-bound organelles.
- These groups include species that can produce their own foods through photosynthesis.
- They have species that can cause harmful health effects to humans and animals.
What is the Difference Between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta?
Schizophyta is an old group in classification that consists of two classes: Schizomycetes (bacteria) and Myxophyceae (blue green algae). Cyanophyta is a new group in classification that consists only of Myxophyceae (blue green algae). So, this is the key difference between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta. Moreover, schizophytes contain both parasitic and autotrophic species, while Cyanophyta contains only autotrophic species.
The following infographic lists the differences between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Schizophyta vs Cyanophyta
Schizophyta and Cyanophyta are two groups in classification. Schizophyta is an old group in classification and consists of two classes: Schizomycetes (bacteria) and Myxophyceae (blue-green algae/cyanobacteria), Cyanophyta is a new group in classification that contains only Myxophyceae (blue-green algae/cyanobacteria). Thus, this is the summary of the difference between Schizophyta and Cyanophyta.
Reference:
1. “Schizophyta – Blue-Green Algae – Examples, Characteristics, Morphology.” MicroscopeMaster.
2. “Cyanobacteria.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Schizophyta” By Argonne National Laboratory (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Cyanobacteria-cyanophyta-algae-4469840” (CC0) via Pixabay