bacteria | small organisms enclosed by a capsule or slime layer
typically chemotrophic and unicellular
motile in two directions at one speed, cannot stop moving
can form endospores under adverse conditions |
motile | capable of motion |
spores | inactive forms of cells
capable of resisting heat, radiation and poisonous chemicals
restore to vegetative form when returned to suitable surroundings for cell function
some bacteria can survive in boiling water for several hours, during heat sterilisation boiling would be done under pressure to allow the temperature to reach over 120C |
vegetative form | normal, functional cells |
pili | single strands of proteins in the cell membrane extending 10 mm out of the cell wall |
flagella | 10-20 mm long and allows movement away from undesirable environments |
aerobic | require oxygen |
anaerobic | do not require oxygen |
uses of bacteria | enslaved by eukaryotes for energy in mitochondria and chloroplast generation
used as a tool to understand genetics |
shapes | rod
sphere
spriral |
viruses | parasitic, non-living particles that are typically host specific
protein coat with no cellular structure, metabolism, or reproduction
reproduction occurs by invading a living host cell: metabolism of the host is redirected to replicate the viral genetic code and protein coat |