Bacteria :: Science Chemistry Biology Experiment Essays

bacteria Bacteria argon the most common and ancient microorganisms on earth. about bacteria be microscopic, measuring 1 micron in length. However, colonies of bacteria grown in a laboratory petri dish bunghole be seen with the un wait oned eye. There are many divisions and classifications of bacteria that back up in identifying them. The first two types of bacteria are archaebacteria and eubacteria. Both groups defy common ancestors dating to more than 3 billion years ago. archaebacterium live in environments where, because of the high temperature, no other life can grow. These environments include hot springs and areas of volcanic activity. They arrest lipids but lack true chemicals in their cell wall. Eubacteria are all other bacteria. some of them are phototrophic, i.e. they use the suns energy as food through the deal of photosynthesis. Another classification of bacteria is according to their need of oxygen to live. Those who do require oxygen to live are con sidered aerobes. The bacteria who dont use oxygen to live are known as anaerobes. The shape of specific bacteria succeeds for the next step in the identification process. Spherical bacteria are called cocci the bacteria that have a rodlike shape are known as bacilli corkscrew shaped bacteria are spirillum and filamentous is the term for bacteria with a threadlike appearance. Hans Christian Joachim Gram, a Danish microbiologist, developed a method for distinguishing bacteria by their polar reaction to a stain. The process of applying Grams stain is as follows the bacteria are stained with a violet dye and treated with Grams solution (1 break iodine, 2 parts potassium iodide, and 300 parts water). Ethyl alcohol is then applied to the medium the bacteria will either support the blue color of the original dye or they will chance a red hue. The blue colored bacteria are positive the red bacteria are identified as gram-negative. Bacteria chasten deoxyribonucleic acid (de oxyribonucleic acid) just like all cells. However, in bacteria the DNA is arranged in a circular fashion rather than in strands. Bacteria also contain ribosomes which, like in eukaryotic cells, provide for protein synthesis. In order for a bacterium to attach itself to a surface, it requires the aid of pili, or hairlike growths. Bacteria, just like sperm cells, have flagella which assist in movement. But, sperm cells only have one flagellum, whereas bacteria contain flagella at several locations throughout their body surface.