Kingdom Monera

Eating Habits

• most bacteria are decomposers
• which means they are heterotrophic
• these bacteria feed on dead matter so they are called saprophytes
• some bacteria are not saprophytic but parasitic or feed on a living host
• they are still heterotrophic
• still others are autotrophic undergoing photosynthesis or chemosynthesis to make their own food
• remember that we've talked about metabolism which is the sum of all the body functions' energy
• digestion or the break down of food into small molecules for absorption is part of the metabolic processes
• remember also that part of metabolism is cellular respiration
• remember in cellular respiration, there are pathways the require oxygen and some that don't
• organisms that require oxygen for their metabolic processes are called aerobic organisms
• organisms that don't require oxygen for their metabolic processes are called anaerobic organisms

Biosphere

Asexual Reproduction

• there are multiple ways bacteria reproduction
• most popular form is binary fission
• bacteria literally split into 2 cells after reproducing their DNA
• this type of reproduction is very fast and most preferred
• as bacteria grow and reproduce, they devour the dead matter
• eventually bacteria will die but if they dead matter is still available, bacteria will also reproduce
• if the amount of bacteria that die equals the amount of new bacteria that form that is called a steady state
• in the beginning when an organism first dies, bacterial populations will explode.
• this is called exponential growth
• as the dead matter is consumed and disappears the bacterial growth will slow down and eventually stop
• population growth that is controlled by limited resources is called logistic growth
• take a look at the graph

Genetic Recombination

• genetic recombination is exchange of genetic information in order to increase genetic diversity
• 3 ways genetic recombination takes place: conjugation, transformation, transduction
• conjugation: a temporary union of two organisms for the purpose of DNA transfer
• this circular section DNA that is transferred is called a plasmid
• a conjugation tube is formed between the two bacteria and the plasmid passes from the donor bacteria to the recipient
• transformation is the transfer of a DNA segment from a nonfunctional donor cell (usually dead) to that of a functional recipient cell
• transduction is the process in which infection by a virus results in DNA being transferred from one bacterium to another
• viruses can pick up DNA from a bacterium during infection and inserted into another bacterium in the next infection
• when environmental conditions are not right for reproduction or survival, bacteria form an endospore inside their cell
• endospores contain the cell's DNA and essential parts for survivial, under multiple hard layers.
• this allows for the genetic material to survive harsh conditions
• once favorable conditions return, the bacteria can reform with the DNA and parts available in the endospore

Bacterial Colonies

3 common shapes of bacteria

Bacillus = rod

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Coccus = round

spirillium = spiral

Gram Staining

Developed by Hans Christian Gram

Multi-step process:

• certain bacteria look blue/purple
• others look red/pink
• depends on what is in their cell wall
• used as a means to classify bacteria
• Red/pink bacteria are Gram negative
• Blue/purple bacteria are Gram positive
• determines their phylum
• Gram negative belongs in the phylum Gracilicutes
• Gram positive belongs in the phylum Firmicutes
• No stain because of no cell wall belongs in the phylum Tenericutes
• Have compounds that form the cell walls differently belong in the phylum Mendosicutes

Classification

Using Table 2.1 p. 55, create a foldable for the classifications in Kingdom Monera

Conditions for Bacterial Growth

Darkness

Moderate Temperature

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Proper amount of Oxygen

Nutrition

Moisture