Name _______________________________________________ per ______ Date __________________
Prokaryotes
1. What is the Human Microbiome?
2. What are the three domains of life?
3. What are the two domains of prokaryotes?
4. Both archea and bacteria lack organelles and a nucleus. Why aren’t they considered to be the same
thing?
5. Approximately how long have bacteria existed on Earth?
6. Scientists consider bacteria to be the most abundant life forms on earth. Explain why.
7. Consider the following two characteristics of bacteria: DNA and organelles. Based on what you
know about these traits, are bacteria eukaryotes or prokaryotes? Explain
8. Bacteria have 3 basic shapes. Below, identify each basic shape, and draw an example of each type
of cell.
a.
b.
c.
9. Bacteria demonstrate a great deal of metabolic diversity. Explain what this means below.
10. What is an autotroph?
11. What is a heterotroph?
12. Imagine that you are exploring deep in a cave in an area that is never reached by light. While on
your explorations, you discover a formerly unknown ecosystem. Explain what organisms might be
the primary producers for this ecosystem and propose a mechanism by which they can produce the
energy needed.
13. Imagine that you discover a new type of bacteria in an environment that is never exposed to
oxygen. What type of bacteria might you have discovered? What further test would you need to
conduct to be sure?
14. Imagine that you have discovered a new type of bacteria from inside this classroom. You accidently
store it in an environment without oxygen. When you discover your mistake a day later, the
bacteria is fine. What type of bacteria did you discover?
15. If a bacterial cell requires oxygen, what type of bacteria is it?
16. Label the bacterial cell below and answer the questions that follow.
a. What shape is this cell? Use the correct name
b. Is this cell Gram + or Gram -? Provide 2 pieces of evidence to support your answer.
c. If treated with Gram stain, what color would the cell above appear? Explain your answer.
d. Which structure(s) involve movement?
e. Which structures above could be involved in conjugation?
f.
Which structures above would also be found in a cheek cell?