Virus and Bacteria

Bacteria Characteristics

Bacteria are the most successful organisms on the planet

Bacteria are the simplest organisms of living things

Bacteria have a basic design and simple structures

• Bacteria can reproduce rapidly through binary fission, allowing them to adapt quickly to their environments.

• They can thrive in a variety of habitats, including extreme conditions such as hot springs and deep-sea vents.

Bacteria are single celled (but may be organized into colonies)

Bacteria are prokaryotic cells (they have no nucleus)

90% of bacteria have a cell wall to provide shape and protection

Bacteria cells contain no nucleus or membrane bound organelles but still contain genetic material

Live almost everywhere

Some need oxygen to survive (called aerobes)

BACTERIAL HISTORY

Bacteria was discovered by Leeuwenhoek in 1683

Bacterium is singular for bacteria

Bacteria can be found everywhere

Millions on your skin

Both Archaebacteria and Eubacteria are similar in shape and size but differ significantly in their genetic makeup and environmental adaptations.

ARCHAEBACTERIA

In 1977 organisms that could survive in extreme conditions were (Archaebacteria)

Archaebacteria are prokaryotes, meaning that they have no cell nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles in their cells

Archaebacteria have a different chemical composition from Eubacteria

This allows this type of bacteria to live in extreme environments

hot springs, salt lakes, marshlands, oceans, gut of animals and humans

Reproduce asexually - mostly binary fission

TYPES OF ARCHAEBACTERIA

Halophiles - bacteria that live in extremely salty conditions

Thermophiles - bacteria that live in extremely hot environments (Thrive at 100°C)

Methanogens - bacteria that live in strange places such as swamps and inside of guts of organisms

EUBACTERIA

Eubacteria are prokaryotes, meaning that they have no cell nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles in their cells

Bacteria are only a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a number of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods to spirals

Found in soil, hot springs, waste water, Earth's crust, organic matter, bodies of plants and animals

Found EVERYWHERE

Reproduce asexually through binary fission

Bacteria is the smallest organism known. Most are decomposers, a few are producers.

SHAPES OF BACTERIA

Cocci - spherical

Bacillus - rod-shaped

Spirilla - spiral

Diplo - in pairs

Staph - in clusters

Strep - in chains

VIRUS

Background

Viruses are not a single cell or composed of cells. They are non-living, and do not eat or excrete waste. Their only function is to reproduce. Not part of any kingdom. No scientific name, but named by binomial nomenclature, but the disease names them they cause.

Structure

looks like a crystal

Smaller than a cell (20 nm in diameter)

Viruses are composed of 2 parts:

Hereditary Material (DNA or RNA) on the inside

Protein Coat (shell that protects against drying or freezing) on the outside

Reproduction

Viruses can only reproduce inside other living cells.

When finished the host cell bursts (is "killed") and releases the virus, causing other cells to be infected.

Protection

Antibiotics DO NOT affect viruses.

Antibodies, made by organisms, fight off viral infections.

Immunizations cause production of antibodies