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Bacteria IN 217 & 219. Characteristics of Bacteria. Smallest and simplest living thing Have no organelles , including no nucleus Genetic material = simple circular chromosome They have cell walls to protect them from outside pressure Transmitted through: air Water Human Contact
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Characteristics of Bacteria. • Smallestand simplest living thing • Have no organelles, including no nucleus • Genetic material = simple circular chromosome • They have cell walls to protect them from outside pressure • Transmitted through: • air • Water • Human Contact • Contaminated Food
Bacterial Shape & Arrangement SHAPES: • Coccus: round • Bacillus: rod shaped • Spirillum: spirals ARRANGEMENTS: • Diplo: pairs • Staphylo: clusters • Strepto: chains
Feeding Requirements • Some are heterotrophs: live as parasites • Some feed on dead material: saprobes • Some are photosynthetic: autotrophs Strep throat bacteria Blue-green bacteria
Types of Metabolism Obligate aerobes: • require oxygen to live • Example: E.coli lives in mammal intestines Obligate anaerobes: • Killed in the presence of oxygen • Example: Syphillis Facultative aerobes: • can live with or w/o oxygen
Bacterial Adaptations for Survival. Endospore ENDOSPORES: • Hard, outer covering produced during harsh environments • Resistant to: • drying out • boiling • Metabolism slows down inside endospore • Resumes growing when conditions are more favorable
TOXIN PRODUCTION: • Some bacteria produce poisons when the Endospore begins to grow • Toxins kill off other bacteria • providing more food for the surviving bacteria • Some toxins are deadly • Examples: • Botulism (food poisoning) • Tetanus (lock jaw)
Bacterial Reproduction BINARY FISSION: • Asexually Reproduce • Splitting in ½ after copying the DNA • Occurs very quickly • Will stop reproducing only if: • Run out of food • Dry up • Poisoned by own wastes
CONJUGATION: • Sexual Reproduction • Transfers all or part of the DNA between 2 bacteria • Transfer through a projection called a Sex Pilli • Occurs when threatened, • Hope to pass on genetic material • Will make the bacteria resistantto changes.
Describe some helpful uses for bacteria. • NITROGEN FIXATION: Some bacteria convert nitrogen gas into nitrates in the soil which is necessary for plant growth • The bacteria live in association with the plant roots • SAPROBES: Break down dead organic matter
Bacterial Uses FOOD FLAVORINGS: • Food flavors are produced by: • Fermentation • Bacterial wastes, etc. • EX: Vinegar, yogurt, butter, cheese, pickles, buttermilk, sauerkraut ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTION: • Some bacteria produce antibiotics that will kill other forms of bacteria • Antibiotics kill bacteria only!