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Questions and Answers
Which component of a bacterial cell provides shape and support?
What is the function of the flagella in bacteria?
Which of the following bacteria has a rod shape?
What is the genetic material of bacteria contained within?
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Which type of bacteria has a spiral shape?
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What is the main component of the bacterial cell wall?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Bacteria
- Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that are prokaryotic, lacking a nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles.
- Their genetic material is located in a single circular chromosome in the cytoplasm.
Bacterial Shapes
- Bacteria come in various shapes and sizes, including coccus (spherical or ovoid), bacillus (rod-shaped), and spirillum (spiral-shaped).
- Examples of bacteria include Streptococcus and Staphylococcus (coccus), Escherichia coli and Salmonella (bacillus), and Vibrio cholerae and Helicobacter pylori (spirillum).
Structure of Bacteria
- The cell wall is a rigid outer layer that provides shape and support to the cell, composed of peptidoglycan.
- The cell membrane is a semi-permeable membrane that separates the cell's cytoplasm from its environment, controlling the movement of molecules in and out of the cell.
- The cytoplasm is a gel-like substance containing the cell's genetic material, ribosomes, and other cellular machinery, and is the site of many metabolic processes.
- Some bacteria have flagella, long whip-like structures that enable the bacteria to move around.
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Description
Learn about the basic characteristics of bacteria, including their unicellular structure, prokaryotic nature, and varied shapes and sizes.
