Defence

Although not obvious at first, organisms in Kingdom Monera do have some means of defense.  In some species of bacteria, there is something called a capsule.  This capsule is made up of polysaccharides, and protects the bacterium from phagocytes (such as white blood cells) and from desiccation (drying out).

Quick Fact:   Bacteria are the chief cause of infectious diseases in humans.

Also, when the living conditions become too harsh to withstand for the bacteria, it can develop a tough, protecting wall around its DNA and a small bit of cytoplasm.  This creates a highly resistant and dormant structure called an endospore.  The rest of the cell that remains may then die.  Fortunately for the bacteria, the endospore may resist up to years of freezing, or drought.  When the conditions become fit for the bacteria to become active again, the endospore becomes an active cell again.
 
 

Quick Fact:  Bacteria are found almost everywhere.  They have been found from the almost airless reaches of the upper atmosphere, to 10km below the surface ocean, in frozen soil and even in hot springs!!
 
 

The cyanobacteria form resistant spores called akinetes, which are enlarged cells around which thickened outer walls develop.  These akinetes are resistant to heat, freezing, and drought, so the cyanobacteria can survive harsh environmental conditions.  They function practically the same as the bacterial endospores, but don’t look at all alike, and are resistant are not as resistant as endospores.  Some bacteria also have means of movement, which can be used to get away from things that may hurt the bacterium.