Die Frage nach der Gestalt der prokaryotischen Mikroorganismen ist in der Mikrobiologie bisher rein deskriptiv behandelt worden. Womit es zusammenhängt, daß überhaupt nur wenige elementare Zellformtypen vorkommen und diese nicht einer den höheren Lebewesen vergleichbaren Systematik als Grundlage dienen können, ist bis heute nicht ernsthaft untersucht worden. Ich habe deshalb in der vorliegenden Arbeit wesentliche Eigenschaften der prokaryotischen Mikroorganismen und ihrer Umwelt zusammengestellt und ihre Besonderheiten im Vergleich zu denen einzelliger eukaryotischer Mikroorganismen hervorgehoben und zu verstehen versucht. Einleitend wende ich mich zunächst den besonderen Größenverhältnissen der Mikroorganismen und den mit ihnen verbundenen Eigentümlichkeiten zu. [...]
N1 -Prokaryotic and eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms are compared with respect to their cellular organization. Prokaryotes lack polar differentiation in cell nucleus and cytoplasm, and interact metabolically directly with their environment as „process germ cells“. The cytoplasm of the eukaryotes represents an individualized environment for the cell which ingests particulate food and houses the prokaryotic mitochondria and chloroplasts as endocytobionts. Eukaryotes form partially or completely mineralized endo- or exo-skeletons and different species exhibit specific cell shapes effected by higher formative forces. In contrast prokaryotes exhibit only a few types of simple cell shapes which occur in all systematic groups. Differentiation of species and genera is based on physiological properties. Cell shape depends on a flexible murein sacculus stiffened by turgor pressure. To some degree cell shapes represent types of life forms for certain physiographic conditions. Prokaryotes remain in the liquid phase with both cell body and metabolic activity. They are considered as the original life processes of the hydro- and biosphere and may represent the first, most simple form of the archetype in the cosmic shape of the planet earth.
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic unicellular microorganisms are compared with respect to their cellular organization. Prokaryotes lack polar differentiation in cell nucleus and cytoplasm, and interact metabolically directly with their environment as „process germ cells“. The cytoplasm of the eukaryotes represents an individualized environment for the cell which ingests particulate food and houses the prokaryotic mitochondria and chloroplasts as endocytobionts. Eukaryotes form partially or completely mineralized endo- or exo-skeletons and different species exhibit specific cell shapes effected by higher formative forces. In contrast prokaryotes exhibit only a few types of simple cell shapes which occur in all systematic groups. Differentiation of species and genera is based on physiological properties. Cell shape depends on a flexible murein sacculus stiffened by turgor pressure. To some degree cell shapes represent types of life forms for certain physiographic conditions. Prokaryotes remain in the liquid phase with both cell body and metabolic activity. They are considered as the original life processes of the hydro- and biosphere and may represent the first, most simple form of the archetype in the cosmic shape of the planet earth.