Monera

The prokaryotes, a kingdom of primitive microbial organisms characterized by having no defined nucleus or chromosomes; DNA that is not membrane-bound; and absence of centrioles, mitotic spindle, microtubules, and mitochondria; division of the ill-defined nuclear zone (nucleoid) is by separation of two masses attached to parts of the cell membrane, then growing apart (a form of amitosis). M. includes the blue-green algae and bacteria; viruses, which lack a true cell, may have originated as “escaped nucleic acid s” or “wild genes” from eukaryotic cells and are not included. [pl. of Mod. L. moneron, fr. G. moneres, solitary]

* * *

mo·ne·ra mə-'nir-ə n pl

1) cap in some classifications a kingdom or other major division of living things comprising the prokaryotes

2) living things that are prokaryotes

* * *

Mo·ne·ra (mo-neґrə) [Gr. monērēs single] in the traditional five-kingdom system of classification, a kingdom comprising unicellular organisms without true nuclei, i.e., the prokaryotes, including the bacteria and cyanobacteria (formerly blue-green algae). Organisms formerly placed in this kingdom are now classified in the domains Archaea and Bacteria.