Bacteria studies Part 2

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In my previous post, Bacteria studies Part 2

• What is bacteria?
• Types of bacteria
• Structure of bacteria.

We are going to move on to Feeding.

How Bacteria feed

Bacteria feed in a different way depending on the type of bacteria.
Heterotrophic bacteria get their energy by absorbing organic carbon from dead organic materials. Most of these bacterias are parasites and can kill their host, while others can help them.

Autotrophic Bacterias can prepare their food by the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process of using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to make food.
Chemosynthesis is the process of using carbon dioxide, water, and chemicals to make food. Examples of chemicals are ammonia, sulfur, nitrogen, etc.

An Example of photoautotrophs bacteria is cyanobacteria which produce oxygen. Animals need oxygen for breathing, and these bacteria play a vital role in the earth's ecosystem. Another example is the heliobacteria which do not produce oxygen.

Examples of chemoautotrophs bacteria are commonly found in ocean vents and roots of legumes(Grand nuts, beans, etc).

Habitat

Bacterias can live in animals and plants as parasites, and can also be found in the soil, water, radioactive waste, arctic ice, and hot springs. Bacterias can be found in the ocean depths of about 32 000 feet or 10 000 meters deep, and the stratosphere (6 and 30 miles up in the atmosphere).

Anaerobic bacteria are grown in non-oxygen areas like the gastrointestinal tract. they are the cause of most dental infections

Aerobic bacterias only grow in areas where they are oxygen, this can go ahead to cause problems to human habitats such as water clarity and bad smells.

Facultative anaerobic bacterias can grow with or without oxygen but prefer an environment where there is oxygen. They are likely to be found in the soil, water, and flora of humans and animals.

Mesophilic bacteria are found in the human body and are responsible for infections in humans. They thrive to moderate the human body temperature around 37C.

Extremophile bacteria can withstand extreme conditions for most forms like temperatures above 75. Some can go as far as survive in temperatures above 113.

Other conditions

• Salty environments
• Acid environment (PH 0)
• Alkaline environment (PH 10.5)
• Cold temperature (glaciers)

Reproduction and transformation

Bacteria can reproduce using the following method

• Binary Fission

It is a form of reproduction where two cells are produced as a result of the continued growth of the cell wall toward the center. It is called an asexual form of reproduction, as the single cell is separated into two individual cells with the same genetic materials.

• Conjugation

It is the transfer of genetic material from one cell to the other, also known as the transformation or transduction. It is one of the reasons why some bacteria can resist threats like antibiotic medications.

• Spores

Spores are formed by the bacterias, which hold the DNA materials and enzymes needed for germination. It aids them to resist environmental stresses. Spores can be inactive for centuries and become active as soon as the right conditions occur and become bacteria.

Summary

Bacteria are not bad, they are not plants nor animals. They are very helpful, as the oxygen used by animals is probably created by the activity of bacterias. Bacterias are used in nitrogen fixation, food technology, research in industries, etc. Though bacterias cause disease in humans, antibiotics have been produced to fight.