Bacterial Cells

• What do you observe when bacteria grow on an agar plate?

  Dots that are bacterial colonies
• What is a bacterial colony made up of?

  Millions of bacteria
• Why do you need a powerful microscope to see bacteria?

  Because they are very small, around 1 µm
• How many bacteria can fit on a full stop?

  Hundreds of thousands
• What is the typical size of many bacteria?

  About 1 µm
• Label blanked out features.

  A) Prokaryotic

  B) genetic material

  C) barrier

  D) peptidoglycan

  E) cytoplasm

  
• Name all blanked parts.

  A) pili

  B) flagella

  C) genetic material

  D) slime capsule

  
• What are bacteria classified as?

  Smallest living organisms
• How many cells do bacteria consist of?

  Just one cell
• What are the seven life processes that bacteria can carry out?

  Movement, reproduction, sensitivity, growth, respiration, excretion, nutrition
• What are prokaryotes?

  Single-celled organisms without a nucleus
• What is the most common type of prokaryote?

  Bacteria
• What does Escherichia coli (E.coli) cause?

  Food poisoning
• What do Streptococcus bacteria cause?

  Sore throats
• Where are Streptomyces bacteria commonly found?

  In the soil
• What antibiotic comes from Streptomyces bacteria?

  Streptomycin
• What are the three main components found in all bacterial cells?

  Cell membrane, cell wall, genetic material
• What does streptomycin do?

  Kills many disease-causing bacteria
• Why do some bacterial cells have extra subcellular structures?

  They are adaptations to their environment
• What are the key characteristics of bacteria and prokaryotes?

  • Bacteria are the smallest living organisms
  • They consist of one cell
  • They can perform seven life processes
  • Prokaryotes are single-celled without a nucleus
  • Most prokaryotes are bacteria
• What is the function of flagella in bacterial cells?

  Allow the cell to move through liquids
• What are pili used for in bacterial cells?

  Attachment and transferring genetic material
• What is the slime capsule in bacteria?

  A protective layer outside the cell wall
• How does the slime capsule benefit bacteria?

  Protects from drying out and toxins
• What is a plasmid in bacterial cells?

  A circular piece of DNA storing extra genes
• Why are plasmids important for bacteria during stress?

  They may contain antibiotic resistance genes
• How do the functions of flagella and pili differ in bacterial cells?

  Flagella enable movement, pili enable attachment
• What role does the slime capsule play in bacterial adhesion?

  Helps bacteria stick to smooth surfaces
• What type of genetic material is typically found in plasmids?

  Extra genes not needed for survival
• What is the significance of antibiotic genes being found in plasmids?

  They provide resistance during stressful conditions