Bacteria: Key Concepts

Inquiry: Are Robots Attacking?

• Pg. 228 in your textbook• How does the size of a bacterium compare to

that of a virus?• Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. Very

powerful microscopes are needed to view them.

Is all bacteria harmful?

• Some bacteria is harmful and causes illness and death. However, some bacteria is helpful in nature and in your body.

Are bacteria living or nonliving?

• Bacteria are living organisms.

Can bacteria be seen without a microscope?

• Bacteria are small and cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope and usually a stain.

What are the three shapes of bacteria?

• Round or sphere-shaped• Rod shaped• Spiral shaped

How much larger is an average eukaryotic cell than an average bacterial cell?

• Bacteria are prokaryotic. Eukaryotes are 10-100X larger than the average bacteria cell.

How do bacteria obtain food?

• Some feed on dead organisms or organic waste. Others feed on living organisms. Still others make their own food using light energy or chemical energy.

The ways bacteria move are:

• Bacteria move using flagellum, pilli, or by twisting.

Why is it important for the cell to protect its DNA rather than its other cell parts?

• DNA contains the master plan for making new cell components (parts).

What are some ways bacteria can be helpful?

• Bacteria can help with digestion and other body processes, such as making vitamin K.

What is decomposition?

• The breaking down of dead organisms and wastes.

What happens to the molecules that are released into the soil due to decomposition?

• They are used for other organisms for life processes.