Chapter 4

Prokaryotes

Lack a nucleus, include bacteria and archaea, smaller cells compared to eukaryotes.

Eukaryotes

Have a nucleus, contain membrane-bound organelles, more compartmentalized than prokaryotic cells.

Acellular Microbes

Not composed of cells, include viruses, do not meet all criteria for life.

Characteristics of Life

Growth, reproduction, responsiveness, metabolism, cellular organization.

Cellular Morphology

Common morphologies - bacillus, cocci, spiral; Less common morphologies - vibrio, spiral subtypes.

Bacterial Cell Morphology

Cell shapes - spiral cut, barella, filamentous, coco bacillus; Cell arrangements - diplo, strepto, staphylo, tetrad, sarcina, palisade.

Cellular Arrangement

Different patterns of bacterial cell groupings such as diplo, strepto, staphylo, tetrad, sarcina, and palisade.

Biofilms

Communities of bacteria attached to surfaces and their collective behavior.

Flagella

Bacterial external structure responsible for movement.

Pili

Bacterial external structure for attachment and conjugation.

Glycocalyx

Outer coating of some bacterial cells for protection.

Bacterial Capsules

Protective structures like capsules and glycocalyx with pathogenic implications.

Gram Stain Differentiation

Method to differentiate bacteria based on cell wall characteristics.

Bacterial Cell Envelope

Comprising the Gram-negative cell wall, outer membrane, and cytoplasmic membrane.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis in bacterial cells.

Bacterial Endospores

Specialized structures for survival in harsh conditions with pathogenic implications.

Archaea

Prokaryotic organisms with unique genetic, structural features, and distinct groups.

Classification of Prokaryotes

Historical methods and taxonomic divisions for categorizing prokaryotic organisms.