Bacteria+-+KP

= = =toc= = = = = = = = -Introduction = Did you know that bacteria were the first living things on the planet? Yeah, they were even on earth before the dinosaurs. Bacteria lived on plants and water so they grew and reproduced way before any living thing came to earth. Some people believe that bacteria are extremely harmful and cause diseases like tuberculosis and pneumonia. All though this fact is true, not all bacteria are bad. Bacteria can cause diseases, but they can also prevent and heal them just like any other cell. That's why these people are wrong about bacteria. Without bacteria, who would clean out our intestines? Who would give us the vitamins we need? Bacteria can also be helpful because bacteria makes food like bread and cheese.

= -The structures of bacteria = What are the cell structures in Bacteria? Bacteria cells are very similar to regular cells, they both have **ribosomes** to produce protein, they both have a **cell membranes** to protect the inside, they both have **cytoplasm** to surround **organelles** (tiny shapes inside a cell making it work), and just like plant cells they have a **cell wall** protecting everything inside the cell. As you can see, bacteria cells have everything a normal cell would need except for a **nucleus.** Bacteria don’t have nucleus like a normal cell, but they do have **genetic material,** an organelle right in the middle of bacteria acting like a nucleus, controlling all the organelles around it. Now on the outside of bacteria is another story. Bacteria has tons of things on the outside that regular cells just don’t have. First Bacteria has **Flagella,** Flagella help the cell move to one place from another, and since some bacteria don’t have Flagella they have to move by water currents or wind. Another thing that bacteria has that other cells don’t, is a **capsule** that surrounds everything including the cell membrane and cell wall, they also have **Pili and Fimbriae** which (are little furr like hairs on the outside of bacteria)allow bacteria to attach itself to different surfaces. ( See all of these cell structures in the diagram below!! )

= = = = = -The shapes of bacteria = What are the shapes of Bacteria? The most common shapes of Bacteria are a circle like shape, rodlike shape, or spiral shapes. The cell wall underneath the capsule is what determines the bacteria’s shape. The shape of bacteria can even help scientists identify what kind of sickness it can cause or the type of bacteria it is! For example, the **Borrelia (bore-elia) burgdorferi (burg-DOOR-furry)** bacteria is the kind of bacteria in a spiral shape, this kind of bacteria causes lyme disease. Another type of bacteria called **Staphylococcus (staff-y-low-co-cus)** are in a circle shape and are commonly found on human skin. (See example bacteria in the pictures below!)

**Borrelia Burgdorferi**-- As you can see the Borrelia is a spiral shape, almost twisting.

**Staphylococcus**-- As you can see in the picture above the Staphylococcus is a sphere like circle shape that is found on the human skin.

= = = -How does bacteria help us = Picture this- Good and unharmful bacteria are like soldiers protecting the castle. Especially intestinal bacteria, intestinal bacteria give us the vitamins needed. Some helpful bacteria also grow and live in our intestines, these kinds of bacteria help in digestion and destroying other harmful organisms. These non harmful bacteria are extremely important and helpful to your body, cleaning, protecting and fighting off diseases just like regular cells, bacteria are just the same. Just like soldiers fighting for their castle, except the castle is you. = = = = = -Why are some bacteria our enemies? = Bad and harmful bacteria are like the invaders of the castle. They come in not wanted and harm the castle. Harmful bacteria can enter your body through your nose, mouth and breaks in your skin. These invaders can travel through air, food, and water that carry these bad bacteria that travel from one person to another. These bacteria can make your body sick by harming the helpful cells and other helpful bacteria. Harmful invaders/bacteria can cause illnesses like Hansen’s disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and typhoid disease. media type="youtube" key="zQGOcOUBi6s" width="560" height="315" = = = = = -Conclusion = In conclusion, bacteria come in all different shapes and sizes from circles to spirals and when you think about it bacteria are just like us when it comes to being different. And bacteria is actually pretty helpful. Even though some bacteria are bad and can cause diseases, it doesn’t mean that all bacteria are bad. And also, bacteria’s structure is just like a cell’s structure except for the things that make bacteria, bacteria like flagella or the capsule. = = = -References =


 * The Immune System Explained. Youtube. N.p., 1 July 2014. Web. 9 Mar. 2016. . **


 * Olsen, Gary J. “Bacteria.” World Book Student. World Book, 2016, 26 Feb. 2016. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. . **


 * Pearson Education, Inc. Viruses and Bacteria. N.p.: n.p., 2005. Print. Vol. 2 of From Bacteria to Plants. 5 vols. Science Explorer. **


 * Sheppard software, Unknown. “Bacteria.” Cell games. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2016. . **