Structure and function of bacteria
Prokaryotic cells are found in these organisms.
What are bacteria?
How do bacteria reproduce?
What is asexual reproduction?
Explanation: Bacteria reproduce by splitting into two halves by using a process called binary fission.
This term refers to the differences found in a population of bacteria, which gives natural selection a selection of traits to choose from.
What is genetic diversity?
Explanation: If all of the bacteria are the same, they would not be able to evolve, and die if there is a single threat. Genetic diversity allows for natural selection, which helps them adapt and survive the threat.
This happens when bacteria change over time so that antibiotics can no longer kill them.
What is antibiotic resistance?
Explanation: Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve through mutations or gene transfer, allowing them to survive drugs that once killed them.
This medication is commonly taken during a bacterial infection.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are commonly taken during bacterial infections in the body and kill harmful bacteria.
Bacteria (like prokaryotes) lack this part of an animal cell, which holds DNA.
What is a nucleus?
Explanation: Bacteria lack a nucleus because of their genetic material and cellular structure.
How do antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop?
What is the misuse or overuse of antibiotics?
Explanation: If a person stops taking antibiotics before the bacteria are all gone, it may come back stronger.
This term is used to describe the next generation of that organism. Bacteria pass their genes to this during reproduction, so that they can pass their genes to help them survive threats.
What are offspring?
Explanation: Bacteria evolve rapidly due to their fast reproduction. The stronger bacteria pass their genes on to their offspring, while the weaker bacteria die before reproduction. This happens really fast, so bacteria can adapt at a quick rate.
Bacteria can be killed using antibiotics, but this type of germ (which is responsible for illnesses like the flu or a cold) cannot be killed.
What is a virus?
Explanation: Antibiotics do not work on viruses because antibiotics are designed to kill biological structures that exist in bacteria but not in viruses. Viruses are not considered living cells. They are pathogens that live and clone themselves inside the cells of humans.
A beneficial role that helpful bacteria play in the ecosystem
What is recycling nutrients?
In the ecosystem, some bacteria will decompose dead organic matter and add it to the soil.
The majority of bacteria is _______.
Only a small number of bacteria can cause diseases, and most are harmless or beneficial.
What is the process of bacteria growing twice their size, then splitting into two?
What is binary fission?
Explanation: Bacteria use this process to reproduce.
Natural selection and adaptation in bacteria can cause resistance to this type of medicine.
What are antibiotics?
Explanation: Stronger bacteria can survive the antibiotics, and the weaker ones die. This continues until the bacteria adapt and become resistant to the antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria can be found in agriculture due to the use of this tool to kill pests.
What are pesticides/herbicides?
Explanation: Pesticides can cause evolutionary pressure on bacteria, which causes them to develop defense mechanisms. Over time, they develop a resistance to the antibiotics, and cannot be harmed by the pesticides/herbicides.
Majority of bacteria is _____.
What is harmless?
Only a small number of bacteria can cause disease, and most are harmless.
Both bacteria and animal cells contain this important part of a cell, which holds genetic information.
What are DNA and RNA?
DNA and RNA are found in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells; however, in bacteria, they are found in the nucleoid, whereas in eukaryotic cells, they are found in the nucleus.
How do bacteria mutate?
What are random errors during rapid DNA replication and environmental pressures?
Explanation: Random errors during rapid DNA replication act as the primary spontaneous engine for genetic variation.
This term is an unplanned/unexpected change in an organism's DNA that can help it evolve and survive a threat. This can make them adapt to danger and survive.
What is a mutation?
Explanation: Mutations are random changes to the DNA of an organism, such as bacteria. This change can help the organism survive and reproduce.
Human activities that can cause bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance to some medicines/drugs.
What is overuse/misuse of the antibiotics (or not fully completing the prescription)?
Explanation: The surviving bacteria can reproduce, getting stronger and eventually growing a resistance to the antibiotics.
Eating this food with “live active cultures” in it after antibiotics helps restore health.
What is yogurt?
Yogurt has helpful bacteria that repopulate the gut, which improves digestion and supports the immune system.
This part of bacteria and prokaryotic cells maintains the cell's shape and prevents it from bursting.
What is the cell wall?
The cell wall, found in prokaryotic cells, helps maintain the cell's shape.
How does a mutation lead to antibiotic resistance?
What are random mutations that may provide a survival advantage?
Explanation: When resistant mutants survive and reproduce, they pass on the gene to future generations.
This is the specific measure of an organism's success, defined by its ability to both survive and pass its genes to the next generation.
What is evolutionary fitness?
Explanation: In the environment, fitness isn’t about pure strength, but about being able to survive and reproduce. If you aren’t able to reproduce, you cannot carry your strength to the next generation.
This term describes the pressure antibiotics create that favors the survival and spread of resistant bacteria.
What is selective pressure?
Explanation: When antibiotics are used, they create selective pressure by killing weaker bacteria while allowing stronger ones to survive and reproduce. Eventually, the amount of stronger, more resistant bacteria will increase in the population.
Why are bacteria chosen for biotechnology?
What is quick reproduction?
Bacteria are among the fastest reproducing organisms.