Chapter 27: Bacteria and Archaea 27.1-27.

Prokaryotes are the most abundant organisms: 10x more biomass than eukaryotes
Structure:
Most common shapes: cocci(sphere), bacilli(rods), spirals
Mostly unicellular, may form colonies
Cell wall-provides cell shape, protects cell from damage/bursting
Most contain peptidoglycan-sugar polymers mixed with
polypeptides
Gram-Positive Bacteria: Lots of
peptidoglycan, simpler structure
Gram-Negative Bacteria: Little to no
peptidoglycan, complex structures,more resistant to antibiotics, many
toxic portions
Capsule-sticky polysaccharide/protein coating outside a cell wall
Allow prokaryotes to stick together or to substrates,
provide protection, prevent dehydration
Fimbriae/Attachment pili-allow prokaryotes to stick together/to a
substrate
Sex pili-pull cells together to allow DNA transfer
Flagella-allow prokaryotes to move
About half of all prokaryotes are motile
Taxis-cause movement toward or away from a stimulus
Lack extreme compartmentalization of eukaryotes
Plasma membrane may have infoldings for metabolic
functions
No nucleus-have a nucleoid region to contain genetic material
Circular chromosome: less genetic material, fewer
proteins
Plasmids-small rings of separately replicating DNA with
few genes
DNA replication, transcription, and translation are similar to eukaryotic processes
Some minor differences that make things such as antibiotics effective
Ribosomes have slight differences in protein/RNA content
Binary fission-process by which prokaryotes asexually reproduce
Most prokaryotes divide every 1-3 hours
Growth is limited by limiting nutrients, competition,
prey, or toxic environments
Allows rapid growth of prokaryotic colonies, results in short generation
times, lots of genetic diversity, and rapid evolution
Lots of genetic diversity in prokaryotes occurs due to mutations and short generation
times
Genetic recombination-allows the combination of DNA from two sources
Transformation-prokaryotic cell takes up foreign DNA from its
environment and incorporates it into its own genetic code
Transduction-bacteriophages move genes from one cell to another
Conjugation-two bacterial cells join and transfer genetic material
F Factor-DNA determining ability to participate in
conjugation
Endospore-allows a bacterium to protect itself from harsh environments by forming a
protective shell that is very difficult to damage or destroy
 Chapter 27: Bacteria and Archaea 27.1-27.6

Bacteria may remain dormant for centuries

Gram Staining: Used to classify bacteria based on their cell wall composition
Rapid prokaryotic reproduction can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria