Bacteria Classification and

CharacteristicsBy: Sarah Haudrich, Kiley Plenderleith and Jimmy Livingston

Overview

kingdoms of bacteria classification of bacteria gram staining shapes of bacteria how bacteria moves

Kingdoms

Prokaryotes- unicellular organisms that lack a nucleus

Prokaryote kingdom- Monera Kingdoms within the prokaryote kingdom-

Eubacteria and Archaebacteria

prokaryote

Eubacteria

Larger kingdom cell walls have peptidoglycan (a

carb) can live almost anywhere

fresh water salt water humans

eubacteria

Archaebacteria

DNA sequence of genes are more like eukaryotes than eubacteria

Eukaryotes may be a far ancestor can live in harsh environments

mud animal digestive tracts extremely salty areas

DNA

Similarities between Eubacteria and Archaebacteria

Small in size Lacks a nucleus Has cell walls

Classification

classified by...a) their shapesb) their chemical nature of the cell wallsc) the way they moved) how they obtain energy

gram staining (eubacteria)

technique to differentiate two large groups of bacteria based on cell wall

based on the ability of bacteria cell wall to retaining the crystal violet dye during solvent treatment

Gram staining helps distinguish between gram positive and gram negative by coloring red or violet

Gram positive

Stains violet peptidoglycan in cell walls The following are characteristics of gram positive bacteria

Thick peptidoglycan layer- polymer consisting of sugar and amino acids Peptidoglycan chains are cross-linked to form rigid cell walls however, the

decolorized Gram negative cells are stained red.

Gram negative

Stains red Thinner wall Does not retain violet during decoloring process

gram staining process

cells are stained with a crystal dye Decolorization- ethyl alcohol or acetone is added to the sample

Gram positive stains violet Gram negative stains red

counterstaining A counterstain is added, staining the sample red The counterstain will not disrupt the violet stain in Gram positive However, the decolorized Gram negative cells are stained red

What are 3 Different Shapes of Eubacteria? Rod shaped (Bacilli) Spherically shaped (Cocci) Spiral shaped (Spirochetes)

How does bacteria move in three different modes? Propelled by flagella Glide slowly (slime) Whip themselves

Moving bacteria