To review: The basic bacterial cell biology.
Introduction: The bacteria are the microorganisms that are the oldest living and are believed to have existed on earth approximately 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. The bacteria are diverse but share numerous common features.
Explanation of Solution
The bacteria are of four basic shapes, namely, coccus (spherical), bacillus (rod-shaped), vibrio (comma-shaped), and spirillum (spiral-like). The arrangement of the bacteria can be of various types. The bacteria can exist individually or in pairs, or in the form of long-chain or clusters. The bacteria are microscopic.
A bacterial cell consists of various cell structures, namely, plasma membrane, vacuole, ribosomes, inclusion bodies, nucleoid, cell wall, capsule and slime layers, fimbriae and pili, and flagella. Each cell structure performs its functions individually.
The plasma membrane of the bacteria consists of phospholipid molecules along with the amino acids, proteins, and sugar moieties that are embedded in it. The plasma membrane is the structure through which the transport of materials takes place by active, passive, and facilitated transport.
The bacterial cell wall is of two types that divide the bacteria into gram-positive and gram-negative. The cell wall of the gram-positive bacteria consists of peptidoglycan, and gram-negative consists of peptidoglycans along with other layers.
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Chapter 39 Solutions
Prescott's Microbiology
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