Bacteria All are Prokaryotic-NO NUCLEUS. All are unicellular (means one cell) and survive independently. All reproduce by binary fission. Cynobacteria are the oldest form of life on earth. Make up two Kingdoms of the six kingdoms of life. Eubacteria and Archebacteria

Bacteria Like warm moist places to grow. More types of bacteria than all other living things combined. Most are microscopic 1 gram of soil = 2.5 x 10 9 bacteria

Endospore This contains the genetic material of the bacteria when conditions become unfavorable (like hibernation)for the bacteria. It contains proteins and is covered by a thick protective coat. When conditions improve the Endospore breaks open and the bacteria grows normally.

Bacteria Shapes Bacilli - rod like with large surface area to take in lots of nutrients. Dry out easily. Cocci - spherical and do not dry out as easily as bacilli Spirilla - long spiral shaped, use flagella at either end to move like a corkscrew.

Eubacteria Most bacteria are classified as Eubacteria and by how they get their food (energy) Producers- make their own food Consumers- eat other organisms Decomposers- feed on dead organic matter.

Cynobacteria Live in water and contain chlorophyll( use photosynthesis to make food). They are believed to have created the oxygen in our atmosphere in prehistoric time. Red Cynobacteria is where flamingos get their pink color.

Stromatolites

Archebacteria Live where there are extreme conditions Heat Lovers- live in hot water up to 250°C Salt lovers- live in extremely salty conditions like the great salt lakes and the dead sea. Methane Makers- live in swampy areas and give off methane; CH 4.

Bacteria’s Role in the World Recycle organic material- decomposers Nitrogen Cycle- taking nitrogen out of the air and “fixing” it into the ground for plants. 78% of our atmosphere is nitrogen. Bioremediation-Clean up harmful chemicals making them harmless using microorganisms (Oil eating) Medicines- insulin- genetically altered bacteria to produce human insulin. Food production- butter milk, sour cream, cheese, yogurt.

Oil Eating Bacteria

Waste Water Treatment

Insulin

Antibiotics Antibiotics fight and kill bacteria and other microorganisms. Antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria. This is why doctors will prescribe an antibiotic for only a short time period. Vaccination- making the body develop a resistance to specific diseases. Pathogenic bacteria cause disease. They get into the Host’s cells and take nutrients from them.

Bacterial Diseases Tetanus, Diphtheria, Bubonic plague, Cholera, Lyme’s disease, Pneumonia, and Typhoid fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Bacterial Meningitis, Leprosy, Tuberculosis