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Fact 1 - Definition: Bacteria is a single-celled or noncellular spherical or spiral or rodshaped organisms lacking chlorophyll that reproduce by splitting in half.
Fact 2 - The term bacteria was devised in the 19th century by the German biologist
Ferdinand Cohn (24 January 1828 – 25 June 1898) who based it on the Greek word
'bakterion' meaning a small rod or staff.
Fact 3 - Ferdinand Cohn classified bacteria into four groups based on shape:
 Sphericals
 Short rods
 Threads
 Spirals
Fact 4 - Some types of bacteria can cause diseases and become harmful to the environment
whilst other types others offer benefits
Fact 5 - Bacteria are everywhere - in the air, sky, on mountains, in oceans, in humans,
animals and on everything we touch
Fact 6 - Bacteria are minute, on average most species of bacteria have diameters of 0.5 to
2.0 microns
Fact 7 - Some bacteria can move
Fact 8 - Anywhere that dead and decaying matter is present is a good home for bacteria
Fact 9 - Examples of bacteria include:
 Acidophilus, a normal inhabitant of yogurt
 Clostridium welchii the most common cause of gas gangrene
 E. coli - found in the lower intestine. E. coli can be a threat to food safety
 Streptococcus, the human mouth and gut. Can cause diseases including strep thro
Fact 10 - Bacteria have flourished on earth for over three billion years
Fact 11 - Some types can attack plants, causing diseases like leaf spot and fireblight
Fact 12 - The term “friendly bacteria” is used to describe the types of bacteria that offer
some benefit
 Helps produce food
 Keeps soil fertile
 Helps us to digest food
 Inhibits the growth of potentially harmful bacteria
Fact 13 - Friendly Bacteria: Bacteria in our digestive system help to convert milk protein
into lactic acid and reducing the growth of harmful bacteria.
Fact 14 - People have millions of bacteria living on the skin surface and on the mucous
membranes of the nose, mouth, and bowels
Fact 15 - Humans spread bacteria from the mouth and nose
Fact 16 - MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the U.S. each year than AIDS