1. What do you already know about bacteria?
DNA
What do you already know about bacteria?

2. Bacteria

3. Bacterial Cells No membrane- bound organelles
Do contain ribosomes for making proteins
Have a cell wall with peptidoglycan
Much larger than viruses, but smaller than eukaryotes

4. Bacterial Genome Double-stranded circular DNA
1/1000th as much DNA as eukaryotes
100x as much as virus
Densely packed in nucleoid region

5. Bacterial Reproduction
Called binary fission
Two identical daughter cells formed, but NOT BY MITOSIS

6. But Recombination Occurs
Bacteria still change and evolve by:
Mutations
Transduction
Transformation
Conjugation

7. Mutations Still somewhat rare
BUT bacteria multiply at extremely rapid rates, so mutations occur somewhat often
If a mutation occurs, ALL FUTURE OFFSPRING will have it

8. Transformation The process of bacteria taking in foreign DNA
E.Coli when treated with lots of calcium can be made to take in foreign DNA, a huge tool in biotechnology!

9. Transduction
Every time a virus leaves a cell, it takes a little extra DNA with it
This DNA can be transferred to new hosts

11. Plasmids Small, circular self- replicating segment of DNA in bacteria
Not necessary for survival, but can provide benefits for bacteria
Might also be ancestor of viruses?

12. Major Types of Plasmid R Plasmid – gives resistance to antibiotics
F Plasmid – allows bacteria to pass along DNA via a pili – like a bacterial penis

13. Conjugation - Bacterial Sex
One bacteria donates a plasmid to another
Via the pillus
Allows bacteria to pass along things such as resistance

14. F Plasmid

15. Treating Bacterial Infections
Much easier than viruses
Antibacterial agents can attack the bacteria, without affecting us
Attack bacterial cell walls, protein synthesis, DNA synthesis, ribosomes etc.
But bacteria evolve resistance!