Type One lifeforms - taxonomy

The taxonomic classification of Type One life into three 'kingdoms' - false plants, false animals and the microverse - is an ancient classification system, as shown by the languages of Societies across Kalieda; it is only in the past 200 or so orbits that sufficient progress has been made to allow modern scientists to investigate the biochemistry of Type One life, and thus bring to light the biochemical basis for the six kingdom taxonomy described below.

The key problem for the old taxonomy was its use of size, and also the motility of the dominant generation of each species, to determine which 'kingdom' the species should be assigned to; according to the old taxonomy false animals moved, false plants grew, and the microverse could not be seen by the naked eye. Yet even a cursory study of Type One organisms will quickly demonstrate the difficulty of deciding which kingdom a species should be assigned to, even before any subclassification could be attempted.

The following taxonomy represents our latest understanding of the six kingdoms of Type One lifeforms. As can be seen, the old taxonomy kingdoms are now shown as domains, each with two kingdoms; a species' domain is determined by its chromosomal structure and by its ribosomes - which differ markedly between each domain. Kingdoms are differentiated by the complexity and form of cellular structures, and in particular the structures and biochemistries of mitochondrial and chloroplast bodies within the cell; we now know that these are ancient traits arising from the earliest ages of life on the planet.

Nevertheless there remain differences between a scientist's understanding of the taxonomy and that of most other people. What most people refer to as microverse is in fact divided into three separate kingdoms, one of which (the germulas) now falls within the false plant domain. Similarly most people will still consider many chimeric species to be false plants - and to be fair to them the convergent evolution of black leaf false plant species (such as bread weed) and sessilid chimeric species (for instance the tambel bush) is very strong.

Microverse Domain

• toric DNA structures and C-form ribosomes

Brothic Kingdom

• includes a range of DNA and ribosomal structures beyond those used for domain classification
• only recently identified as a separate kingdom from the microfilm kingdom
• no hierarchical taxonomy
• only useful or dangerous organisms tend to be given their own species classification
• much simpler internal organisation compared to microfilm cells
• tiny compared to other life forms
• includes a range of extremophile organisms and a huge diversity of different chemical pathways
• considered by many to be the original form of life from which all other kingdoms developed

• Shivvanan

Microfilm Kingdom

• a more homogenous grouping of organisms, with a shared range of chemical pathways
• posess clearly defined cellular structures associated with internal membranes
• many species capable of cooperative behaviour between cells, and cell differentiation dependant on the environment
• little in the way of hierarchical taxonomy: kingdom divided into four classes
• class classification is largely determined by photosynthetic pathways rather than by evolutionary history
• cooperation can involve a range of different species from different classes; a 'species' may in fact be a commensal colony composed of a number of separate microfilm species

Black slimes Class

• photosynthesis system capable of operating across the visible spectrum

Green slimes Class

• photosynthesis system is most effective in the yellow and orange wavelength ranges

• Sea grape (photosynthetic component)

Red slimes Class

• photosynthesis system is most effective in the blue and violet wavelength ranges

White slimes Class

• lacks a photosynthsis system

• Sea grape (basal component)
• Sea grape (chemosynthetic component)

False plants Domain

• pseudo-chromosome DNA structures and B-form ribosomes

Germula Kingdom

• unique photosynthesis system operating in the red and infra-red wavelength ranges
• internal cell organisation built around a crystal or metallic structure
• little in the way of hierarchical taxonomy
• commensalism and symbiosis between cells is common, but no organisation beyond the cell
• lacks separate mitochondria for energy management
• some evidence that various protective granules may have originated as brothic organisms with their own DNA

• Rainbow germ

Vegetive Kingdom

• possess chloroplasts, most probably derived from red slime microfilm organisms
• some phyla also have a second set of chloroplasts probably derived from green or black slime microfilm organisms
• mitochondria present in all species, probably derived from brothic organisms with their own DNA
• multicellularity common
• most species have clearly differentiated haploid and diploid generations
• comprehensive hierarchical taxonomy; the commonest are shown below

Scumid Phylum

• generally unicellular or simple multicellular
• multicellular species are all aquatic, with simple structures
• haploid generation is almost universally unicellular
• red slime derived chloroplasts
• analagous to T2 algae and seaweeds

Redleaf plants Phylum

• mostly multicellular
• red slime derived chloroplasts
• haploid generation is simple or reduced
• clear cell differentiation throughout the organism
• little or no bilateral symmetry; growth is often radial or point-derived rather than segmental
• most analagous to T2 multicellular plants

• Baeldock grove (not yet documented)
• Gar bush (not yet documented)
• Lutestran (not yet documented)
• Shivi leaf (not yet documented)
• Straw-weed (not yet documented)
• Willow bark (not yet documented)

Blackleaf plants Phylum

• mostly multicellular
• a range of chloroplasts used, often with more than one type of chloroplast present in cells
• clearly defined multicellular haploid generation
• diploid generation is typically sessile, haploid generation motile
• both generations show signs of bilateral symmetry and segmentation

• Bread weed
• Worm wood (not yet documented)

False animals Domain

• chromosomal DNA structures and A-form ribosomes

Vermic Kingdom

• mitochondria present in all species, probably derived from brothic organisms with their own DNA
• lacks chloroplasts
• unable to generate energy directly from inorganic sources
• mostly multicellular
• haploid phase unicellular, and usually brief
• comprehensive hierarchical taxonomy
• wide range of Phyla, but most species belong to the four described below
• analagous to T2 (non-chordate) animals

Spongiform Phylum

• unicellular or commensal multicellular
• often froms symbiotic partnerships with Microfilm species
• almost entirely aquatic
• analagous to T2 sponges and hydra

Vermiform Phylum

• unicellular or multicellular
• multicellular forms are generally tubular, non-segmented
• analagous to T2 nematodes

Segmentiform Phylum

• multicellular
• laterally segmented structure in adult forms
• analagous to T2 higher worms, molluscs, squid

• Handsquid

Armouriform Phylum

• multicellular
• demonstrates a range of symmetries
• segmentation demonstrated in larval stages
• most species posess an exoskeleton in the adult form
• analagous to T2 echinoderms and arthropods

• Jarales worm (not yet documented)

Chimeric Kingdom

• mitochondria present in all species, probably derived from brothic organisms with their own DNA
• posess chloroplasts, most probably derived from black slime microfilm organisms
• mostly multicellular
• haploid phase unicellular, and usually brief
• many species demonstrate a genetically mediated alternation of generations
• fragmented hierarchical taxonomy - most species long extinct - two commonest phyla shown below
• possibly the first of the multicellular Kingdoms to arise?

Sessilid Phylum

• wide ranging group of organisms
• generally multicellular
• cells possess a range of cell walls
• dominant generation is sessile
• often a major differentiation between motile and sessile generations
• sessile generation analagous in form to T2 plants
• motile generation is small, segmented, and often winged (analagous to T2 insects)

• Tambel bush (not yet documented)
• Vedegga nut (not yet documented)

Skeletonial Phylum

• fairly homogenous group of species
• motile generation is generally dominant; sessile generation is a variation on the motile generation
• segmentation evident in embryos; bilateral symmetry is near universal
• endoskeleton present in both motile and sessile generations
• restricted to the continent of Ewlah, and some smaller oceanic islands
• closest analagy would be to T2 reptiles/mammals

• Barby rat (not yet documented)