Bacteria :: Science Chemistry Biology Experiment Essays

bacterium Bacteria argon the most common and ancient microorganisms on earth. near bacterium ar microscopic, measuring 1 micron in length. However, colonies of bacteria grown in a laboratory petri dish finish be seen with the un serveed eye. There atomic number 18 many divisions and classifications of bacteria that aid in identifying them. The first two types of bacteria are archaebacteria and eubacteria. Both groups lease common ancestors dating to more than 3 billion years ago. archaebacteria 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 finish lipids but lack certain(prenominal) chemicals in their cell wall. Eubacteria are all other bacteria. closely of them are phototrophic, i.e. they use the suns energy as food through the form of photosynthesis. Another classification of bacteria is according to their need of atomic number 8 to live. Those wh o do require oxygen to live are considered aerobes. The bacteria who dont use oxygen to live are known as anaerobes. The shape of specific bacteria departs 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 spirilla 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 diverse 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 fragmentize iodine, 2 parts potassium iodide, and 300 parts water). Ethyl alcoholic drink is then applied to the medium the bacteria will either assert the blue color of the original dye or they will notice a red hue. The blue colored bacteria are positive the red bacteria are identified as gram-negative . Bacteria pick up desoxyribonucleic acid (deoxyribonucleic 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.