How Bacteria Influence Our Environment

Bacteria, indeed, have retained their predominantscientists discovered bacteria.
position and hold sway not only by virtue of a longBacteria is classified as being prokaryotic . Most
and illustrious history but also for abundant reasonsbacteria don't make their own food. Bacterial
of contemporary vigor. Bacteria give yogurt its tangycommunities differ in each region of the body,
flavor and sourdough bread its sour taste.reflecting the environmental conditions in their specific
They make it possible for ruminant animals (cows,region.
sheep, goats) to digest plant cellulose and for someBacteria that inhabit the surface of the stomach, for
plants, (soybean, peas, alfalfa) to convert nitrogen toexample, must deal with extremely strong acid in the
a more usable form.digestive juices. Bacteria can reproduce outside of
Bacterial plasma membranes, the functionalthe body or within the body as they cause infections.
equivalents of eukaryotic plasma membranes, areSome infections bacteria cause include sore throats
referred to variously as cytoplasmic, protoplast, or (in(tonsillitis or strep throat), ear infections, cavities, and
Gram-negative organisms) inner membranes. Similar inpneumonia (say: new- mo -nyuh).
overall dimensions and appearance in thin sections toBacteria are single celled microorganisms that lack a
biomembranes from eukaryotic cells, they arenuclear membrane. While it is perhaps easy to think
composed primarily of proteins and lipids (principallyof them as simple forms of life, the truth of the
phospholipids).matter is that they are highly adaptable. Bacteria are
Bacteria, and other micro-organisms are essentiallytiny, one-celled organisms generally 4/100,000 of an
important in the cycling of nutrients and energy,inch wide (1m) and somewhat longer in length.
particularly in the breakdown of dead organic matterWhat bacteria lack in size, they make up in numbers.
to make the resources locked up in things like deadBacteria are chattering like crazy. Once quorum
trees available again to other living organisms.sensing genes were found in bacteria that people
They also play a central role and the fixation ofthink are important like pathogens more and more
atmospheric Nitrogen into organic molecules and inpeople started entering the field.
the cycling of minerals such as Carbon and Sulfer.Bacteria are one of the most ancient of living things
Bacteria also make, or help to make, drugs,and scientists believe they have been on this planet
hormones, or antibodies.for nearly 4,000 million years. During this time they
Bacteria and viruses are not peers!) All bacteria arehave acquired lots of fascinating and different ways
surrounded by a cell wall. They can reproduceof living. Bacteria put the tang in yogurt and the sour
independently, and inhabit virtually every environmentin sourdough bread; bacteria help to break down
on earth, including soil, water , hot springs, ice packs,dead organic matter; bacteria make up the base of
and the bodies of plants and animals.the food web in many environments.
Bacteria are classified on the basis of their method ofBacteria are of such immense importance because of
energy acquisition. Traditional classifications includetheir extreme flexibility, capacity for rapid growth and
chemosynthetic, photosynthetic, and heterotrophicreproduction, and great age - the oldest fossils
groups. Bacteria can be seen only with the help of aknown, nearly 3.5 billion years old, are fossils of
microscope that magnifies them one thousand times.bacteria-like organisms. Bacteria are so unlike plants
To see viruses, scientists need to use an electronand animals - they're just DNA/RNA encased in a
microscope that magnifies them one million timeshard cover - that they get their own category. They
their normal size. Bacteria have been on the Earth forare able to reproduce, but they are extremely small,
millions of years. It wasn't until the late 1600s thatnone bigger than the smallest cell.