Bacteria
Anton Van Leeuwenhook- discovered cells by accident in late 1600s
Characteristics:
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Prokaryotes- genetic material found floating in cytoplasm.
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Cell wall
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Cell membrane
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Ribosomes
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Flagellum, a whip like structure used for movement
Food and Energy (Need a source of food and a means to break it down to release energy (respiration).)
Autotrophs- producers (photosynthesis or chemiosmosis)
Heterotrophs – consumer or decomposer
Reproduction: has to have the right conditions (temperature and food source ), reproduce quickly, every 20 minutes.
Asexual Reproduction- Binary Fission- bacterial mitosis
Sexual Reproduction- Conjugation, a threadlike link between bacterial where genetic
material transfers DNA
Endospores-small, rounded, thick wall that forms around the genetic information and
last for years.
Why: Unfavorable conditions: food scarce, no water, extreme climate
Importance
1. Produce oxygen
2. Food production (pasteurization)
3. Environmental recycling (Bioremediation –intentionally adding decomposers to break down waste/pollutionand Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria)
4.
Human health (Digestion and providing vitamins)
5.
Medicine production