Structure and Function of Bacteria
How many cells are bacteria composed of?
Bacteria are composed of just one cell, which enables them to reproduce rapidly.
Why can bacterial populations grow so quickly?
They copy themselves quickly using binary fission, so their numbers double fast.
What is the main cause of the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
When antibiotics are overused, the strongest bacteria survive and can become stronger and harder to kill.
What will happen to a person if they don't take the full amount of antibiotics?
Some bacteria survive and can become stronger and harder to kill.
If half of the bacterial population is killed because of a temperature change, but the other half has survived and reproduced, what has happened to the population?
The bacteria that were better suited to survive lived and passed their traits on.
Which structure gives bacteria their rigid, outer shape?
The cell wall which protects the bacteria and keeps it from bursting or changing shape.
How do bacteria reproduce?
They use binary fission. Binary fission is where the bacteria split into two identical cells, which makes the population grow fast.
True or False: All bacteria will survive in an antibiotic environment.
False: Only some bacteria have mutations that let them survive; the rest die.
Should I stop taking antibiotics when I feel better, and why?
No, antibiotics should not be stopped early because if you stop too soon, some bacteria survive and can make you sick again.
Why do antibiotics lose their effectiveness over time?
Over time, resistant bacteria become more common in the population, so the medicine doesn't work as well.
True or False: There is a nucleus in the structure of bacteria.
False: Bacteria don't have a nucleus because they are simpler, prokaryotic cells.
What is the result of binary fission?
The result of binary fission is two identical cells. Each bacterium splits into two, so the population doubles each time.
What is an example of an adaptation in bacteria?
An example of an adaptation in bacteria is the rapid development of antibiotic resistance. Resistance is a change that helps bacteria survive antibiotics.
Why does using antibiotics for viral infections contribute to antibiotic resistance?
Even though it doesn't kill viruses, antibiotics still affect bacteria and help resistant ones survive.
Antibiotic round starts here. If you have any blue cards, remove them from your pile, and from now on, you can only draw red cards.
Why are bacteria in our gut important?
They help digest food and protect the body from harmful bacteria.
Name 3 differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
Prokaryotic cells are small, have no nucleus, no membrane, no bound organelles, and are only single-celled. Eukaryotic cells are large, have a membrane, bound organelles, and are multicellular.
If a mutation gives bacteria a survival advantage, what process allows it to spread?
Natural selection allows for bacteria to spread advantageous traits. The bacteria with the helpful change survive and make more copies of themselves.
True or False: Bacteria can only pass on resistance to offspring.
False: Bacteria can pass genetic information to other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer.
Explain why antibiotic-resistant infections are dangerous for humans.
They are harder to treat, can spread quickly, and there is an increase in deaths.
During a rainstorm, sewage leaks into a lake and bacteria levels spike. How could this affect humans and fish in the area?
Swimming and fishing will become restricted to try to protect the aquatic life, but many fish will die because of low oxygen levels.
Name 3 similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
They both have ribosomes, cytoplasm, cell membranes, and DNA/RNA, which are basic parts of all cells.
How can a single mutation in a bacterial gene sometimes create a big change in how the bacteria survive?
A single mutation can change a trait that helps the bacteria survive in their environment.
How does the theory of evolution explain antibiotic-resistant bacteria?
Bacterial populations evolve through natural selection because of the changes that are the antibiotics to create advantageous traits like resistant bacteria.
If two patients have the same bacterial infection, but one recovers quickly with antibiotics while the other does not respond at all, what is the most likely evolutionary explanation?
The patient who has not responded has an infection that is likely caused by a strain of bacteria with a mutation for antibiotic resistance. Natural selection allows the bacteria to survive and multiply.
Why is understanding bacterial evolution important for public health?
It can help prevent disease spread, manage outbreaks, and develop vaccines.