KINGDOM MONERA

(BACTERIA)
 What makes this kingdom
unique?
• Most abundant
organisms on Earth
• Outnumber all other
organisms combined
• More in a handful of
dirt than the total
number of people
who have ever lived
 Characteristics

Prokaryotes: no nucleus or membrane-bound organelles

 Characteristics
eukaryotes

smaller
prokaryotes
than

• Smaller than smallest eukaryotes

• All are unicellular
• Now considered two kingdoms:
Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
 KINGDOM ARCHAEBACTERIA

• Archae = ancient
• Evolution considers
them the first
organisms
• Can live where no
others can
 Types of Archaebacteria:
Methanogens
• Convert CO2 into
methane gas
• O2 is poison to them
• Require anaerobic
conditions
• (i.e. sewage or
swamp)
• Thrive in cow and
human intestines
 Types of Archaebacteria:
Thermoacidophiles
• Love hot and acidic environment
• Many are chemosynthetic

volcanic vents hydrothermal vents

 Types of Archaebacteria:
Extreme Halophiles

• Salt-loving
• Great Salt Lake and
Dead Sea
• Use salt to generate
ATP
 KINGDOM EUBACTERIA
• Classified in two ways: shape and stain
• 3 different shapes
• Unicellular or colonies
 1. SPHERE-SHAPED: COCCUS

Diplococcus -
two
Staphylococcus –
clusters
Streptococcus –
strings
 2. ROD-SHAPED: BACILLUS

Diplobacillus - two Streptobacillus - strings

3. SPIRAL: SPIRILLUM
 REACTION TO STAIN
 Gram stain used for classification
• Differing reaction based on cell wall

Cell membrane
(Phospholipid)
Peptidoglycan
(Protein + sugar)
Lipopolysaccharide
(Fat + sugar)
Gram-negative Gram-positive
 GRAM-POSITIVE EUBACTERIA

 Absorb Gram stain and appear purple

 Simple cell wall antibiotics are effective
 GRAM-NEGATIVE EUBACTERIA

 Do not absorb Gram stain

 Absorb a secondary pink stain
 Complex cell wall antibiotics are ineffective
 ALEXANDER FLEMING - 1928

• Scottish bacteriologist
• Grew Staphylococcus bacteria in dish
• Contaminated by Penicillium mold
• Mold inhibited the bacteria 1st antibiotic
 ANTIBIOTICS
• Fight pathogens
• Interfere with formation
of cell walls
• Many obtained from
bacteria or fungi
• Others produced
synthetically
 CELLULAR RESPIRATION

1. Obligate aerobes require oxygen

(i.e. Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
2. Facultative anaerobes can use oxygen
when available but do not require it
(i.e. Escherichia coli)
3. Obligate anaerobes cannot grow in
the presence of oxygen
(i.e. Clostridium tetani)
 BACTERIA IN NATURE ~
Photosynthesis
 Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic O2
 Availability of O2 advent of aerobic organisms

Anabaena
Oscillatoria

Nostoc
 BACTERIA IN NATURE ~
Nitrogen fixers
• Rhizobacteria grow in roots of soybeans
• Convert atmospheric N2 into usable form for plants
 BACTERIA IN NATURE ~
Decomposers
• Break down matter
into simpler
substances
• Nutrients released
into the soil
 BACTERIA and INDUSTRY ~
Food Production

 Ferment lactose in milk

sour cream, yogurt, and buttermilk
 Digest protein in milk
ricotta cheese and cottage cheese
 Fermentation
pickles and sauerkraut
 BACTERIA and INDUSTRY ~
Genetic engineering

 Insert genes into bacteria

 Develop medical products
(i.e. synthetic insulin)
 Develop disease-resistant crops
(i.e. Bt corn)
 Bt Corn
 Bt is a naturally-occurring soilborne bacterium that is found worldwide. This bacterium
produces crystal-like proteins that selectively kill specific groups of insects. Once the
protein is eaten, insects stop feeding within two hours of a first bite and, if enough toxin is
eaten, die within two or three days.
 Plant geneticists create Bt corn by inserting selected exotic DNA into the corn plant's own
DNA.
 Bt corn improves European corn borer control.