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Bacteria

One of the very first organisms to evolve on earth was probably a unicellular organism, similar to modern bacteria. Ever since then, life has evolved into a multitude of life
forms over many millennia. However, we can still trace our ancestry back to this single-celled organism.

Table of Contents

Definition
Diagram
Structure
Classification
Reproduction
Useful Bacteria
Harmful Bacteria

Today, bacteria are considered as one of the oldest forms of life on earth. Even though most bacteria make us ill, they have a long-term, mutual relationship with humans
and are very much important for our survival. But before we elaborate on its uses, let us know the structure of bacteria, its classification, and the bacteria diagram in
detail.

Bacteria Definition
“Bacteria are unicellular organisms belonging to the prokaryotic group where the organisms lack a few organelles and a true
nucleus”.

Also Read: Gram Negative Bacteria (https://byjus.com/biology/gram-negative-bacteria/)

Bacteria Diagram
The bacteria diagram given below represents the structure of bacteria with its different parts.  The cell wall, plasmid, cytoplasm and flagella are clearly marked in the
diagram.

Bacteria Diagram representing the Structure of Bacteria

Structure of Bacteria
The structure of bacteria is known for its simple body design. Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms with the absence of the nucleus and other c
(https://byjus.com/biology/cell-organelles/)ellell (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-organelles/) organelles (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-
organelles/);; hence, they are classified as prokaryotic organisms. Hi there! Got any questions?

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They are also very versatile organisms, surviving in extremely inhospitable conditions. Such organisms are called extremophiles. Extremophiles are further categorized
into various types based on the types of environments they inhabit:

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2. Acidophiles
3. Alkaliphiles
 4. Osmophiles
5. Barophiles
6. Cryophiles

Another fascinating feature of bacteria is their protective cell (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-wall/)wall (https://byjus.com/biology/cell-wall/), which is made up of a
special protein called peptidoglycan. This particular protein isn’t found anywhere else in nature except in the cell walls of bacteria.

But few of them are devoid of this cell wall, and others have a third protection layer called capsule. On the outer layer, one or more flagella or pili is attached, and it
functions as a locomotory organ. Pili can also help certain bacteria to attach themselves to the host’s cells. They do not contain any cell organelle as in animal or plant
cell except for ribosomes.

Ribosomes are the sites of protein synthesis. In addition to this DNA, they have an extra circular DNA called plasmid. These plasmids make some strains of bacteria
resistant to antibiotics.

Also Read: Gram Positive Bacteria (https://byjus.com/biology/gram-positive-bacteria/)

Classification of Bacteria
Bacteria can be classified into various categories based on their features and characteristics. The classification of bacteria is mainly based on the following:

Shape
Composition of the cell wall
Mode of respiration

Mode of nutrition

Classification of bacteria based on Shape

Type of Classification Examples

Bacillus (Rod-shaped) Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Spirilla or spirochete (Spiral) Spirillum volutans

Coccus (Sphere) Streptococcus pneumoniae

Vibrio (Comma-shaped) Vibrio cholerae

Classification of bacteria based on the Composition of the Cell Wall

Type of Classification Examples

Peptidoglycan cell wall Gram-positive bacteria

Lipopolysaccharide cell wall Gram-negative bacteria

Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Nutrition

Type of Classification Examples

Autotrophic Bacteria Cyanobacteria

Heterotrophic Bacteria All disease-causing bacteria

Classification of bacteria based on the Mode of Respiration

Type of Classification Examples

Anaerobic Bacteria Actinomyces

Aerobic Bacteria Mycobacterium

Also Read: Difference between Bacteria and Virus (https://byjus.com/biology/difference-between-virus-and-bacteria/)

Reproduction in Bacteria
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 Bacteria follow an asexual mode of reproduction (https://byjus.com/biology/reproduction-modes/), called binary fission. A single bacterium divides into two daughter
cells. These are identical to the parent cell as well as to each other. Replication of DNA within parent bacterium marks the beginning of the fission. Eventually, cell
elongates to form two daughter cells.

The rate and timing of reproduction depend upon the conditions like temperature and availability of nutrients. When there is a favourable condition, E.coli or Escherichia
coli produces about 2 million bacteria every 7 hours.

Bacterial reproduction is strictly asexual, but it can undergo sexual reproduction in very rare cases.

Genetic recombination (https://byjus.com/biology/bacterial-genetics/)in (https://byjus.com/biology/bacterial-genetics/)bacteria (https://byjus.com/biology/bacterial-

genetics/) has the potential to occur through conjugation, transformation, or transduction. In such cases, the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics since there is
variation in the genetic material (as opposed to asexual reproduction where the same genetic material is present in generations)

Also Read: Binary fission (https://byjus.com/biology/binary-fission/)

Useful Bacteria
Not all bacteria are harmful to humans. There are some bacteria which are beneficial in different ways. Listed below are few benefits of bacteria:

1. Convert milk into curd – Lactobacillus or lactic acid bacteria

2. Ferment food products – Streptococcus and Bacillus
3. Help in digestion and improving the body’s immunity system – Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria
4. Production of antibiotics, which is used in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infections – Soil bacteria

Also Refer: Antibiotics (https://byjus.com/biology/antibiotics/)

Harmful Bacteria
There are bacteria that can cause a multitude of illnesses. They are responsible for many of the i (https://byjus.com/biology/infectious-diseases/)nfectious
(https://byjus.com/biology/infectious-diseases/) diseases (https://byjus.com/biology/infectious-diseases/) like pneumonia, tuberculosis, diphtheria, syphilis, tooth
decay. Their effects can be rectified by taking antibiotics and prescribed medication.

However, precaution is much more effective. Most of these disease-causing bacteria can be eliminated by sterilizing or disinfecting exposed surfaces, instruments, tools
and other utilities. These methods include- application of heat, disinfectants, UV radiations, pasteurization, boiling, etc.

To know more about bacteria, its definition, the structure of bacteria, bacteria diagram, classification of bacteria, and reproduction in bacteria keep visiting BYJU’S
website or download BYJU’S app for further reference.

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 8,923
Also Read:

Cryptobiosis (https://byjus.com/biology/cryptobiosis/)
Microorganisms: Friend And Foe (https://byjus.com/biology/microorganisms-friend-and-foe/)
Biology (https://byjus.com/biology/)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the different types of bacteria??
Bacteria can be divided into several types based on several characteristics such as shape, cell wall composition, mode of respiration, and mode of nutrition.

2. What is bacteria? How do you define bacteria?

Bacteria are prokaryotic unicellular organisms. They have a relatively simple cell structure compared to eukaryotic cells. They also do not possess any membrane-bound
organelles such as a nucleus. However, do they possess genetic material (DNA or RNA) in the intracellular space called the nucleoid

3. How do bacteria reproduce?

Bacteria reproduce through a process called binary fission. In this process, a single bacterium divides into two daughter cells. These daughter cells are identical to the
parent cell as well as to each other.

4. State 4 examples of bacteria.

Streptococcus
Bacillus
Actinobacteria
Proteobacteria

Learn More through Quiz

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Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button

Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

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10 Comments

Aagam
APRIL 4, 2020 AT 12:15 PM
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Good info

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M D
MAY 9, 2020 AT 1:10 PM
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please state about eubacteria and archeabacteria

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Mentor
JULY 21, 2020 AT 4:57 PM
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Read more about eubacteria and archaebacteria here (https://byjus.com/biology/archaebacteria/).

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Sowjanya
MAY 26, 2020 AT 9:59 AM
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Thank you so much byjus . This helped me a lot

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Abhishek katru
JUNE 28, 2020 AT 6:50 PM
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Good Information Thanks to BYJU’S

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ASHISH BHATIYA
OCTOBER 2, 2020 AT 12:03 PM
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THANK YOU .

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Kshitiz Khantwal
OCTOBER 14, 2020 AT 4:47 PM
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Please tell me about kinds of Bacteria

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Mentor
MAY 17, 2021 AT 2:59 PM
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Bacteria can be classified based on shape, mode of nutrition, respiration, the composition of the cell wall, etc. Based on these criteria, bacteria can be
classified as bacillus, coccus or vibrio, etc., autotrophic or heterotrophic, aerobic or anaerobic, Gram + or Gram -. Read the above topicHifor detailed
there! Got any questions?

information. I can help you...

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bpt sajjo
JANUARY 22, 2021 AT 5:16 PM
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Good info it’s REALLY helpful in my exam

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B.Sharvani Patel
MAY 26, 2021 AT 11:08 AM
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Difference between Bacteria and Virus

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