Bacteria, and Archaea

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Outline

Prokaryotes
Bacteria
Archaea

The Prokaryotes

The prokaryotes include bacteria and

archaea, which are fully functioning cells.
A single spoonful of earth can contain 10 10
prokaryotes.
Range in size from 1-10m in length and .
7-1.5m in width.

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Prokaryote Structure

Lack a eukaryotic nucleus.

Have outer cell wall containing
peptidoglycan.
Some move by means of flagella.
Lack membranous organelles.
Contain nucleoid.
May have accessory ring of DNA
(plasmid).
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Flagella

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Reproduction in Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes reproduce asexually by means

of binary fission.
Conjugation occurs between bacteria
when the donor cell passes DNA to
recipient cell by way of sex pilus.

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Binary Fission

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Reproduction in Prokaryotes

Transformation occurs
when bacterium picks
up free pieces of DNA
from other
prokaryotes.
Transduction occurs
when bacteriophages
carry portions of
bacterial DNA from
one cell to another.

When faced with

unfavorable conditions,
some bacteria form
endospores (spores
inside the cells)

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Prokaryotic Nutrition

Obligate anaerobes are unable to grow in

the presence of free oxygen. Ex. Bacteria
causing botulism, tetanus
Facultative anaerobes are able to grow in
either the presence or absence of gaseous
oxygen. Ex. E. coli

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Autotrophic Prokaryotes

Photoautotrophs use
solar energy to reduce
carbon dioxide to organic
compounds.

Photosynthesis
Ex. Cyanobacteria, green
sulfur bacteria

Chemoautotrophs
oxidize inorganic
compounds (hydrogen
gas, hydrogen sulfide,
ammonia) to obtain the
necessary energy to
reduce O2 to an organic
compound.

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Chemosynthesis

Cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria are Gram-negative bacteria

that photosynthesize.
Believed to be responsible for introducing
oxygen into the primitive atmosphere.
Lack visible means of locomotion.
Can live in extreme environments.
In association with fungi, form lichens.

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Cyanobacteria

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Heterotrophic Prokaryotes

Most prokaryotes are chemotrophs that take in

organic nutrients.
Aerobic saprotrophs (detritivores) decompose
most large organic molecules to smaller
molecules.
Chemoheterotrophs involved in fermentation

May be free-living or symbiotic.

Nitrogen fixation
Commensalism
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The Bacteria

Bacteria can also be classified in terms of

their three basic shapes.
Spiral (spirilli), Rod (bacilli), and Round
(cocci).

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The Archaea

rRNA has a different sequence of bases than

rRNA of bacteria
Unusual lipids( glycerol linked to branched chain
hydrocarbonds) in plasma membrane; allow them
to function at high temperatures.
Cell walls composed of polysaccharides, others
pure protein; others no cell walls
Unique forms of metabolism (methanogenesis)
Most are chemoautotrophs
Mutualistic or commensalistic ; no parasites
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Types of Archaea

Methanogens

Halophiles

Found in anaerobic
environments
Swamps, marshes,
intestines, compost pits,
landfills
Produce methane from
hydrogen gas and carbon
dioxide.

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Require high salt

concentrations for
growth.
Great Salt Lake in Utah,
Dead Sea, hypersaline
soil
Chloride pumps that
pump chloride inside
the cells
Synthesize ATP in the
presence of light

Thermoacidophiles

Reduce sulfides and

survive best at
temperatures above
80oC. To 105oC
Hot springs, geysers,
submarine thermal
vents, around
volcanoes
Grow in acidic sulfates
at pH 1-2.

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.