1. Bacteria
And why they are cool!

2. Bacteria are prokaryotes (no membrane bound organelles)
They are microscopic, ranging in size from 10 to 100 micrometers (There are one million micrometers in a meter. This means that can fit end to end along one cm)

3. Both kingdoms are similar:
Bacteria are classified as either Eubacteria (largest kingdom of the 2) or Archebacteria
Both kingdoms are similar:
Small
Lack nuclei
Have cell walls

4. Major Differences Archebacteria lack peptidoglycan in cell walls
Have DNA more like eukaryotes (have nuclei)

5. Interesting Archebacteria
Methanogens
produce methane gas
Live without oxygen
Others can live in very salty environments

6. Three Shapes Bacilli – rod shape Cocci – spherical
Spirilla - corkscrew shape

7. Ways to Identify Cell walls: Thin (will look pink when stained)
Thick (will look purple when stained)

8. Movement May have flagella (whiplike structures)to propel them along
May spiral, or snake, forward
May ooze along
May not move at all

9. Metabolic Function: AKA How They Get Their Energy
Most are heterotrophs (get energy from other organisms)
Chemoheterotrophs
Must take in organic (from living organisms) compounds for energy and carbon 
Photoheterotrophs
Are photosynthetic and use sunlight for energy, but also need organic compounds for carbon

10. Others are autotrophs (make their own food)
Photoautotrophs
Are photosynthetic
Use sunlight for all their energy and carbon needs
Cyanobacteria: have blue pigment, found around the world on land and in water (near the surface), are often the first species to recolonize an area after natural disaster
Chemoautotrophs
Do not require sunlight
Get all their energy and carbon from other chemicals
Can live deep in the ocean

11. Oxygen requirements Obligate aerobes Obligate anaerobes
MUST have oxygen
Ex. Mycobacterium tuberculosis 
Obligate anaerobes
MUST live without oxygen
Ex. Clostridium botulinum 
Facultative anaerobes
Do not require oxygen, but are not killed by it.
Ex. Escherichia coli (E. coli)

12. Growth and Reproduction
Binary Fission
Bacteria replicates (copies) its DNA and divides in half
No exchange of genetic material  
Conjugation
Hollow tube forms between two bacteria
Genes move from one to another
Increases genetic diversity

13. Spore Formation
Bacteria can form spores when conditions for living might kill them
Endospore: bacterium makes a thick interior wall; saves DNA and some cytoplasm
Spores can be dormant for years
Ex. Bacillus anthrax

14. Importance of Bacteria
Not all are harmful
Good bacteria include:
Decomposers - break down dead stuff 
Nitrogen fixers – convert nitrogen into a form plants can use

15. Human Benefits Human benefits:
Used to produce foods and beverages (can you think of some?)
Digest oil spills
Remove wastes and poison from water
Mine minerals
Help make drugs and other chemicals (by genetic engineering)
Make vitamins in our colon (large intestine)
New uses being discovered