Bacteria


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Bacteria

In five kingdom classification bacteria is the sole member of kingdom Monera.

Characteristics of Bacteria :

  • Bacteria includes unicellular organisms.
  • They are prokaryotes. Their chromosome material is not enclosed within a nuclear membrane i.e. their genetic material is not organised into a nucleus. It lies inside the cytoplasm and called as nucleoid.
  • Membrane bound cell organelles like mitochondria, golgi apparatus, lysosomes, etc. are absent. 
  • Cell wall may or may not be present.
  • Most bacteria lack chlorophyll, hence they are heterotrophic (saprophytic or parasitic). However, a few bacteria possess chlorophyll and are autotrophic.
  • The bacteria may contain flagella or cilia. The flagella is consist of protein called as the flagellin.
  • For eg:  Mycoplasma, Escherichia coli and blue - green algae or cynobacteria (Anabaena and Nostoc).

    Cyanobacteria  or blue green algae  are the members of bacteria. They are called as the blue green algae because they also contain chlorophyll like plants and also perform photosynthesis. These bacteria perform the function of nitrogen fixation. 

    Bacteria can be beneficial or harmful for different living organisms.

    Beneficial bacteria  includes bacteria present in the our stomach which helps in digestion of food. Eg : Escherichia coli, Curd making bacteria, lactobacillus .

    Harmful bacteria:  Bacteria causes diseases like food poising (Clostridium botulinum), pneumonia (streptococcus bacterium) ,typhoid (Salmonella bacterium), tooth decay etc.

    Rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli (singular: bacillus), e.g., Bacillus anthracis, which causes the disease anthrax.

    Spherical bacteria are called cocci (singular: coccus), e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, which causes the disease pneumonia.

    Other types are spiral bacteria called spirilla and comma-shaped called vibrio.

    Bacteria can be also be classified on the basis of Gram staining. If the bacteria take the gram stain or we can say get stained deeply then it is called as the gram positive bacteria and on the other hand if the bacteria does not take the stain then it is called as gram negative bacteria. This staining method was given by Christian Gram

    To kill the disease causing bacteria we use the antibiotics. Antibiotics are the medicine used by to kill the disease causing bacteria. The first antibiotic discovered by the Alexander Fleming was Penicillin.

                                     

     

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    Sample Questions
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    Question : 1

    Which of the following exihibit the charateristics given below ?

    X - Form a green scum over wet soil

    Y - Closer to bacteria

    Z- Pigments mask the chlorophyll

    Right Option : C
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    Explanation
    Question : 2

    _________________ is prokaryotic cell amongst the following.

    Right Option : B
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    Explanation
    Question : 3

    Bacteria lack _________________

    Right Option : A
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    Explanation
     
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