Bacteria are unicellular organisms belonging to the prokaryotic group where the organisms lack a few organelles and a true nucleus.
The study of bacterial cells is known as bacteriology. Bacteriology is the subfield of microbiology which involves identification, classification and characterization of various bacterial cells. In our daily life, Bacteria is useful, for example during the formation of curd at that time lactobacillus bacteria forms curd from milk. Bacteria are an important topic in Biology and they carry a weightage of 5-6% in NEET and 4-5% in CBSE and other Paramedical Exams.
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The structure of a typical bacterial cell with its various parts is depicted in the bacteria diagram below. The cell wall, cytoplasm, plasmid, and flagella are clearly marked in the diagram.
Generally, all bacteria have cell walls and cell membranes. The cell membrane is made up of a lipid bilayer which provides fluidity to the cell membrane, And the cell wall is made up of peptidoglycan which provides a rigid structure to the cell.
The cell wall is the thick structure then the cell membrane. The cell membrane covers the cytoplasmic region of the bacterial cell, the cytoplasmic region is reached with DNA, protein, ribosome, vacuoles and storage body.
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According to Gram staining, Bacteria are divided into Gram-positive Bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Gram staining differentiates a bacterium in Gram-positive or Gram-negative nature based on the cell wall composition of that particular bacteria.
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 |
Based on gram staining:
Gram-positive bacteria
Gram-negative bacteria.
Gram-positive Bacteria characteristics
Gram-positive bacteria do not have an outer membrane, while in Gram-negative bacteria outer membrane is present.
Gram-positive bacteria appear blue or purple under the microscope.
The cell wall is the structure surrounding the cell’s membrane.
In Gram-positive bacteria cell walls are made of multiple layers of molecules, less lipid and protein.
The cell wall protects the bacteria from killing or any type of damage
In Gram-positive bacteria, the peptidoglycan is 20 to 80 nm (nanometer) thick
Gram-negative Bacteria characteristics
Gram-negative bacteria are made up of a thinner layer of peptidoglycan.
They also have a lipid membrane at the outer region and protect the cell from the surrounding environment.
Whereas this peptidoglycan layer is only 2 to 3 nm thick in Gram-negative bacteria.
Due to this lipid membrane layer, they are more resistant to antibiotics and other drugs. Although Gram-negative bacteria are more challenging to treat with drugs or chemical compounds.
Bacteria are useful in the following sectors for daily human uses:
Fermentative nature
Acid production
Antibiotics production
Metabolites production
Bacteria are used as probiotics
Helps in curd formation
It able to degrade complex nutrients
It produces vitamins, amino acid
Following are some examples of bacteria which are commonly found:
Escherichia coli
Clostridium botulinum
Lactobacillus species
Actinobacteria
Bacillus stearothermophilus
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Salmonella typhi
A bacteria which can live in extreme conditions from the human point of view. Extreme conditions include High temperature, Low temperature, High pH, Low pH, High pressure, and High salt concentration. Examples of extremophiles are shown in the below table.
Extreme conditions | Bacteria Name | Examples |
High temperature |
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High pH condition |
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Low temperature |
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Low pH |
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High pressure |
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High salt concentration |
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Based on their effect on humans, bacteria are categorized into beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria.
Beneficial bacteria live on the body surface and it is also known as human microbial flora.
Pathogenic bacteria can cause diseases in the human body such as tuberculosis and Syphilis disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis and Treponema pallidum respectively.
Based on the presence or absence of flagella, Bacteria can be divided into motile bacteria and non-motile bacteria.
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Thermus aquaticus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Psychroflexus, Psychrobacter, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Halomonas salaria, Salinibacter are the examples of extremophiles.
For fermentative process, Use in acid production, For antibiotics production, For metabolites production, Probiotics formation, use in curd formation, Use in production of vitamins, amino acid.
Fascinating bacteria means bacteria possessed unique characteristics, which are not shown by other normal bacteria.
Aristotle is the father of biology.
Bacteria are small in size and single cell organisms which are not seen by the naked eye.
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Correct Answer: Serious
Solution : The correct option is the first option.
Explanation:
The tone of the speaker is serious as it discusses various factors influencing subway air pollution, particularly focusing on the sources of particulate matter, health risks for subway workers, and the mix of particles within the subway system.
The language used is factual and analytical, examining the potential health impacts without conclusive evidence and citing observations and studies. There's a sense of concern and caution regarding the potential health risks associated with subway air pollution, which contributes to an overall serious tone in the passage.
Therefore, the correct answer is serious.
Correct Answer: It inactivates them
Solution : The fourth option is the correct choice.
The passage in the third paragraph mentions that freezing inactivates the enzymes and microorganisms. This helps to preserve food.
Correct Answer: Generating ventilation systems.
Solution : The correct choice is the first option.
The passage mentions factors influencing subway air pollution. It also discusses the observation that employees working on platforms with higher particulate matter concentrations tend to have higher levels of risk markers for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, improving ventilation systems in the subway environment could be a practical measure to reduce the health risks associated with subway life.
Therefore, generating ventilation system is the most practical way of reducing the health risk of subway life.
Correct Answer: Chemicals
Solution : The third option is the correct choice.
As stated at the start of the second paragraph, bacteria require air, optimum temperature, and moisture to be active. Thus, bacteria do not require chemicals to be active.
Correct Answer: Preservation of food
Solution : The fourth option is correct.
The given passage initially talks about the changes that take place in food articles over time. Then we are introduced to some methods to check the growth of various microorganisms inside food items. And finally, some chemicals, such as salt and vinegar, are also mentioned that help in the preservation of foods. It can be concluded that the primary theme of the passage is the preservation of food.