Bacteria+-+JH

=Introduction= Did you ever wonder how germs are spread? How does one family member get the flu and then the entire family is sick for a few days? Well we can blame our misery on dreaded bacteria. Everyone has been sick with the flu. People dread runny noses, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and the chills. The real reason we have all these irritating symptoms is bacteria. Bacteria are microscopic (small) single-celled organisms that grow and survive in different environments. (lifescience.com) Bacteria can live within objects and around them. For example, it is found in the ocean, in soil and even in our bodies. The unique thing about bacteria is that it can be both helpful and harmful to us. toc =Function of a Bacteria Cell.=

The function of bacteria is very interesting because bacteria can grow and reproduce in different environments and on different objects. Bacteria grows in and survives in soil, water, radioactive waste and in the deep patterns of the Earth’s crust. In addition, it lives in plants and animals. There are about 40 million bacterial cells in just a gram of soil. These 40 million bacterial cells can grow and divide at ligtening speed.(worldbook.online) Bacteria grow to a fixed size and then reproduce through the process of fission. Fission is when bacteria divides or splits into two or more parts.(Brainpop.com) Under the right conditions, scientists have discovered that bacteria can divide as quickly as every 9.8 minutes. (Science Today)

Scientists usually research and observe bacterial growth in laboratories. If bacteria is grown in a controlled environment, such as a petri dish, then scientists can observe and collect samples to conduct research. Different types of bacteria will produce different looking colonies. Each different colony represents an individual bacterial cell or group of cells that have divided. Observing in the controlled laboratory results in the bacteria forming visible patches. The bacterial growth patterns observed in labs are very different than growth in the wild. Changes in bacterial growth in the wild are because of the constant changes in the environment. These changes in the environment change the growth patterns of bacteria, which makes it harder to study patterns of growth..

The growth of bacteria follows four phases. The first phase of growth is called the Lag Phase. In this phase bacteria first comes in contact with an environment that is healthy for growth, the cells adjust to their new environment and begin to grow. In this first phase, bacteria grows slowly because it is getting used to it’s environment. It is preparing for fast growth by producing protein. The second phase of growth is called the log phase. During this phase, bacteria is growing quickly and nutrients are being used at a fast rate. This phase continues until one of the nutrients is gone. When the nutrients are gone, then the bacteria stops growing. The third phase of growth is the stationary phase. This last stage is caused by the loss of nutrients. When nutrients are lost, the cells slow down and start eating protein that doesn’t assist in their growth. The final phase is the death phase where the bacteria runs out of nutrients and dies. (sciencetoday.com) [|__https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEwzDydciWc__]

=Structures of Bacteria Cells=

Bacteria is a very simple structure because It has no recognizable organelles and only the outer cell gives it shape. It has a cell membrane and cytoplasm, but does not have a defined structure because it does not have a defined nucleus. Bacteria comes in many shapes and sizes such as spheres, spiral threads, cylinders, rods and chains.Evidence shows that bacteria has been in existence as long as 3.5 billion years making it the oldest living organism on Earth. (science.com). Scientists have completed additional research to explain the role of bacteria in daily life. They discovered some bacteria produces deadly chemicals that react with other bacteria. This reaction creates antibodies. Antibodies are special cells in the immune system that identify organisms that invade the body. The antibodies are then able to set off a chain of events that kill these foreign invaders. ( medical-dictionary.com) The development of antibodies has changed the field of medicine as we know it. Scientists discovered that antibodies could fight off bad bacteria. These antibodies help people and animals fight off illness.

There are two different ways bacteria can be classified. The first way to classify bacteria is by bacteria’s response to gaseous oxygen. The second way of classifying bacteria is how it gets its energy. First, bacteria either needs oxygen to live or can’t handle oxygen at all and will die when exposed to it. Furthermore, some bacteria prefers oxygen, but can live without it. Another way bacteria can be classified is the manner in which it consumes and breaks down compounds. Bacteria, that creates their own energy, fueled by light or through chemical reactions are called autotrophs. Go to this website for more information on bacteria structure and autotrophs. []

=What are the Positive and Negative Effects that Bacteria has on the Body=

Bacteria can have a positive or negative effect on your body. Researchers have found that our bodies are home to an estimated 100 trillion good bacteria. Scientists have found that many of the good bacteria lives in our gut. (healthline.com) Good bacteria is important to a person’s health because it helps our bodies digest food and take in nutrients. In addition, it produces good vitamins to help the intestines do its job. Furthermore, good bacteria fights the unknown substances in the body, so we do not get sick. Good bacteria is good for our body because it acts like a protector. It lowers cholesterol levels and regulates our metabolism. Furthermore, good bacteria helps the intestines so that we stay in good health.

In comparison bad bacteria is what makes people sick. The good news is that only a small handful of known bacteria are able to cause disease. To cause disease, the bacteria must attack the cells of an organism. A recent study by the website healthyeating .com found that48 million people each year get sick from bad bacteria usually found in food.An example, of bad bacteria found in food is Salmonella. Salmonella is food bacteria which is spread when food is contaminated or has high amounts of bacteria. An example of this is when food utensils are not cleaned well and raw meat is touched and then the same utensils touch other foods. The foods becomes contaminated and grow bacteria.

Some examples of human diseases caused by bacteria are the following: tuberculosis, diphtheria, anthrax, typhoid fever, bacterial meningitis and whooping cough. The most common of these human diseases caused by bacteria is bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is a bacterial disease that has highly infectious germs that spread easily from one person to another. This bacteria causes severe headaches and stiff joints especially in the neck area. This bacteria makes people very weak. People who have bacterial meningitis spread the germs often because they don’t know they are carrying this bacteria in or on their bodies. The reason people don’t know they have this disease is because they do not show signs of being sick. These people are called “carriers.” Most carriers never become sick, but can still spread the bacteria to others.

In many developing countries bacteria is a major problem. People spread bacteria to each other by poor hygiene, limited access to clean water and poor sewage treatment. Here in the United States bacteria is spread the following ways: mother’s passing it to their babies in labor and delivery, people spreading bacteria by coughing, sneezing, and kissing (saliva) and finally people getting bacteria by eating food prepared by people who not wash their hands well after using the toilet.

Conclusion

Now you know the good, the bad, and of course the ugly of bacteria. Next time you are standing near someone that happens to sneeze think to yourself, is this good or bad bacteria? The bad bacteria can cause us many unwanted problems. But also remember the bacteria we need to keep in our bodies is the good stuff. This keeps our body strong and fit. It can help us remain healthy and fight off problems that can weaken our systems.

=References=

“Bacteria.” Brainpop, www.brainpop.com/science/diversityoflife/bacteria/. “Bacteria Growth.” Youtube, uploaded by Dan ezzo - izzo, 29 July 2007, www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEwzDydciWc. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017. Cells, Heredity, and Classification. Austin, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005. Halthyeating. www.healthyeating.SFgate.com. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017. Sakimoto, Kelsey K. “Self-photosensitization of nonphotosynthetic bacteria for solar-to-chemical production.” Science, vol. 351, no. 6268, 1 Jan. 2016, pp. 74-77, science.sciencemag.org/content/351/6268/74. Accessed 2 Feb. 2017. Vidyasagar, Aparna. “What Are Bacteria.” Livescience, www.livescience.com/51641-bacteria.html. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017. = WorldBookOnline. www.worldbookonline.com. =