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What is a Bacterium?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A bacterium is a unicellular microorganism which represents one of the most basic and primitive forms of life. Bacteria are everywhere, from pools of nuclear waste to deep inside the Earth's crust, and it is believed that bacteria were the first living organisms on Earth. You come into contact with bacteria constantly, although you may not be aware of it. Bacteria exist in such abundance that scientists have barely begun to scratch the surface of the bacterial life on Earth, although some species are well known to humans because they cause infections or disease.

Several things are common to all bacteria, regardless as to how they live their lives. The organisms are classified in the kingdom Prokaryota, which used to be known as Monera. There are only two domains in this kingdom: bacteria and archaea. Bacteria lack a cell nucleus, and they also do not have organelles, like most other celled organisms do. Organelles are small structures inside a cell which have specific functions, like mitochondria. A bacterium has a single DNA molecule, along with RNA strands to help it replicate.

A bacterium is unicellular and has a single DNA molecule.
A bacterium is unicellular and has a single DNA molecule.

The study of bacteria is known as bacteriology. The more the organisms are studied, the more surprises they yield. A bacterium can come in a range of shapes, although most break down into rod, spiral, or curved shapes. The organisms typically use small hairs attached to their cell walls known as flagella to move around, and a bacterium may have one flagella or a plethora. In most cases, bacteria are surrounded by a hard outer shell which helps to protect them from the elements. This shell allows a bacterium to put itself into stasis, waiting for more congenial conditions to emerge.

Some strains of bacteria have become resistant or immune to antibiotic drugs.
Some strains of bacteria have become resistant or immune to antibiotic drugs.

A bacterium can live in a number of different ways. Some species are free living, meaning that they exist independently in things like soil, air, and water. Others may form relationships with additional bacteria or other organisms, taking advantage of mutual strengths to survive. In some cases, bacteria may colonize an animal, although they are perfectly capable of living without their host; bacteria use the host as a source of food, not necessarily for shelter. In most cases, bacteria actually assist their hosts, helping them to digest and break down food, and consuming cast off skin and hair. In other instances, as with pathogenic bacteria, the colonization results in an illness such as plague, tuberculosis, or cholera.

Tuberculosis is an example of a pathogenic bacterium.
Tuberculosis is an example of a pathogenic bacterium.

Many people are familiar with the rapid multiplication of bacteria, which can be accomplished in a number of ways. Most commonly, a bacterium grows and splits itself, thus creating exponential growth within a colony as each new generation grows and splits, sometimes within minutes. Bacteria can also exchange genetic information, including mutations, with each other. Some bacteria can also reproduce through budding, growing a portion of a parent cell which breaks off and grows into a new bacterium.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments

anon244116

Not only are bacteria important in research and clinical medicine, but they are also vital to many beneficial activities that take place in the environment.

chrisinbama

@anon14777: The most important class of bacteria takes into account the important aspect of bacteria reproduction and growth.

Autotrophs, (autotrophic bacteria), requires carbon and obtains it from carbon-dioxide. Some autotrophs use sunlight to produce sugar from carbon dioxide. Others depend on chemical reactions.

Heterotrophic bacteria obtain carbon dioxide from the environment (or living organism) that they are in.

christym

@anon14777: Bacteria are classified based on their need of oxygen for their survival. The bacteria that must have oxygen are called aerobic bacteria. On the other hand, some bacteria cannot bear oxygen and could die if in an oxygenated environment. Those bacteria are called anaerobic.

anon14777

what are the kinds of bacterium?

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    • A bacterium is unicellular and has a single DNA molecule.
      By: Alila Medical Media
      A bacterium is unicellular and has a single DNA molecule.
    • Some strains of bacteria have become resistant or immune to antibiotic drugs.
      By: Alliance
      Some strains of bacteria have become resistant or immune to antibiotic drugs.
    • Tuberculosis is an example of a pathogenic bacterium.
      By: stockdevil
      Tuberculosis is an example of a pathogenic bacterium.
    • Symptoms of tuberculosis may include fatigue and coughing.
      By: kmiragaya
      Symptoms of tuberculosis may include fatigue and coughing.
    • Tuberculosis commonly affects the lungs and causes night sweats and fever.
      By: michaeljung
      Tuberculosis commonly affects the lungs and causes night sweats and fever.