6.02 Bacteria: Life Inside One Cell

You probably know quite a bit already about bacteria, but we're going to try to educate you just a bit more about their characteristics and importance. Yes, importance. Bacteria cause diseases but as you will see they are also extremely important to you and the environment.

What are Bacteria?

Bacteria are the largest group of living things on earth. All bacteria are single-celled organisms, and they come in a variety of shapes and forms.

Basically there are three general shapes. Click on each shape below for more information.

Text Version

Follow the links below to learn more about:

• Classification
• Bacterial Characteristics
• Special Adaptations
• Reproduction

Here is where our cows got involved. You’ve got to see this one!

Popular Science is not only a great magazine for finding out about the latest in new technology, but it also provides audio for some of its more popular articles.

These audio files are called "Podcasts" because you can download them to whatever—your computer, your mp3 player, your iPod—and listen to them later. So I download a lot of them and listen later, while I'm out working on the ranch. A little over a year ago, through one of these Podcasts, I learned that there is power in "poo." Yep, you heard correctly—poo, as in animal waste.

Since that Podcast we have totally converted our barn and guest house operations to methane-powered electricity. I'll tell you more in a few minutes, but see if you can figure it out on your own first.

Complete the activity:

Activity: Poo Power—Listen and Have Fun!

So what's the connection between poo, bacteria, and methane production? Did you get it? I bet you did!

Here's the condensed version. The cows eat, they digest their food, and manure is produced (waste). In the waste live some very important bacteria, who are in the business of decomposing the manure. In the process of digesting the manure, the bacteria also produce a waste product—the gas methane.

The methane gas can then be collected and used to produce electricity. Also, in the process we can compost the remaining manure and create a great fertilizer. In this way we are environmentally friendly in quite a number of ways, but that's another story. The important thing for you to see is how important the bacteria are in the process.

It's time to head into the kitchen for dinner hopefully Trudy will be there waiting with some tasty chow!

Bacteria: The Good Side

Wow! This meal looks awesome! Better wash up for supper! Speaking of food its one more place bacteria can be helpful.

Let's check out some important ways bacteria help us out! Besides being some pretty tasty foods, do you know what swiss cheese, yogurt, and pickles have in common?

You guessed it ... bacteria. Bacteria have long been used by food producers in the production of cheeses, yogurts, and in the pickling process, and are very important in the production of many of the foods we like to eat. In addition, bacteria have other important uses. Take each of the Side Trips below to learn more (add information in these side trips to your Travel Log).

Let's Review

So, how are you doing with bacteria? It is true what they say: You can’t live with ‘em, and you can’t live without ‘em! To wrap it up—kinda like the endospore does for the bacterium—take some time to watch this Discovery Education video and make sure you have bacteria under your belt!

Text Version

Introduction to Bacteria (02:44)

When you have completed your project, go on to the Travel Log tab to see what you need to submit for this activity.