““The Kingdom The Kingdom Formerly Known as Formerly Known as

Monera”Monera”

Single celledSingle celled

Prokaryotic bacteria and blue-Prokaryotic bacteria and blue-green algae green algae (cyanobacteria)(cyanobacteria)

Life Before Oxygen

One Kingdom or two?One Kingdom or two?

Currently, some scientists prefer to Currently, some scientists prefer to divide the Monerans into two divide the Monerans into two separate Kingdomsseparate Kingdoms– Domain ArchaeDomain Archae

Kingdom ArchaebacteriaKingdom Archaebacteria

– Domain BacteriaDomain Bacteria Kingdom EubacteriaKingdom Eubacteria

Ancient vs. True Ancient vs. True BacteriaBacteria

Differences:Differences: Ancient Bacteria (archaebacteria) Ancient Bacteria (archaebacteria)

– their cell walls and the lipids in plasma their cell walls and the lipids in plasma membranes have a different structuremembranes have a different structure

– Sequences of bases in the tRNAs and Sequences of bases in the tRNAs and rRNAs of ancient bacteria are quite rRNAs of ancient bacteria are quite differentdifferent

– React differently to antibioticsReact differently to antibiotics– Able to extract nutrients from inorganic Able to extract nutrients from inorganic

sources (called chemoautotrophs)sources (called chemoautotrophs)

Salt-loving Bacteria Salt-loving Bacteria (halophiles)(halophiles)

Live in salt-lakes The only prokaryotic organisms that inhabit

the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea

Bacteria Of Boiling Hot Springs In Yellowstone National Park

Evaporation pond on the margin of Lake Tyrrell, Australia. The salt works salt piles can be seen in the distance.

Heat-loving and Acid-Heat-loving and Acid-loving Bacteria loving Bacteria (thermoacidophiles)(thermoacidophiles)

Occupy very hot and acidic areas Some live deep in the ocean near

underwater volcanoes and thermal vents

Others live in hot sulfur springs, where

temperatures can reach 800C and a pH as low as

2.

Castle Geyser at Yellowstone National Park

Acidophilic (acid-loving) Acidophilic (acid-loving) BacteriaBacteria

Acidophilic microbes thrive in this biofilm Acidophilic microbes thrive in this biofilm growing inside an abandoned mine at Iron growing inside an abandoned mine at Iron Mountain, Calif.Mountain, Calif.

Acidic mud pots at Acidic mud pots at

Yellowstone National ParkYellowstone National Park

Finally…Finally…

Some scientist feel the ancient Some scientist feel the ancient bacteria should be classified in a bacteria should be classified in a separate kingdom.separate kingdom.

Perhaps the ancient bacteria, the Perhaps the ancient bacteria, the true bacteria and the eukaryotes true bacteria and the eukaryotes share a common ancestor that share a common ancestor that was a very early life form on was a very early life form on Earth.Earth.

Importance of Micro-Importance of Micro-organismsorganisms

Most are harmless Some cause disease ex) diptheria,

plague Decompose dead animals and plants =

make raw materials of life available again

Convert and recycle essential elements like carbon, oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen

Some intestinal bacteria aid digestion

Recalls on California produce has experts Recalls on California produce has experts questioning farming practices questioning farming practices

19:27:02 EDT Oct 10, 200619:27:02 EDT Oct 10, 2006Canadian Press: TOBI COHENCanadian Press: TOBI COHEN

TORONTO (CP) - The threat of E. coli and TORONTO (CP) - The threat of E. coli and botulism poisoning from leafy green botulism poisoning from leafy green vegetables and carrot juice produced in vegetables and carrot juice produced in California has Canadians once again California has Canadians once again watching what they eat - and food experts watching what they eat - and food experts raising questions about where it comes from. raising questions about where it comes from.

Two people in Toronto remained paralyzed Two people in Toronto remained paralyzed Tuesday after drinking carrot juice Tuesday after drinking carrot juice contaminated with botulism, while three contaminated with botulism, while three people have died and nearly 200 left ill after people have died and nearly 200 left ill after eating lettuce and spinach from the Golden eating lettuce and spinach from the Golden State that was laced with E. coli. ….State that was laced with E. coli. ….

Recognize these?Recognize these?

MicrobiologyMicrobiology

““The study of microorganisms”The study of microorganisms” Has practical applications in Has practical applications in

industry and medicineindustry and medicine– Development of antibioticsDevelopment of antibiotics– Manufacture of dairy products Manufacture of dairy products

(buttermilk, cheese, yogurt, etc.)(buttermilk, cheese, yogurt, etc.)– Experimental tools in studying Experimental tools in studying

biological processes like biological processes like metabolism, photosynthesis, metabolism, photosynthesis, enzyme action, and gene actionenzyme action, and gene action

Characteristics Characteristics

StructureStructure– UnicellularUnicellular– LackLack a membrane-bound nucleus and a membrane-bound nucleus and

organelles (aka organelles (aka prokaryoticprokaryotic))– Possess a single chromosomePossess a single chromosome– Possess a cell wall (protection; osmotic Possess a cell wall (protection; osmotic

balance)balance)– Cell wall often surrounded by a capsuleCell wall often surrounded by a capsule

Diversity of size and shape:

But….

That’s not all!

Mycoplasma genitalium 0.4 µm

Haemophilus influenza 1.0 µm

Staphylococcus aureus 0.9 µm

Escherichia coli 1.5µm

Bacillus megaterium 4 µm

RBC 8 µm

General Bacterial General Bacterial ShapesShapes

A. A. This twisted This twisted shape isn't a rotini, it shape isn't a rotini, it is the bacteria is the bacteria Treponema pallidum, Treponema pallidum, which causes which causes syphilis. Because of syphilis. Because of its shape, this its shape, this bacteria is classified bacteria is classified as a spirochete. as a spirochete.

B. B. The bacteria The bacteria Neisseria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which gonorrhoeae, which causes gonorrhea, is causes gonorrhea, is considered a coccus considered a coccus due to its spherical due to its spherical shape.shape.

Asexual – production of one or more genetically identical offspring from a single parent.

Binary fission “splitting in two”Resembles mitosis, but simpler:1. Single DNA strand copies itself2. Cross wall produced that divides the

bacterium into two identical cells• In some species, the new cells remain attached

to form pairs, chains, or clusters.

*genetic variations can occur within individual cells through recombinant events such as mutationsmutations

Reproduction

TransductTransductionionThe transfer of

viral, bacterial, or both bacterial and viral DNA from one cell to another via bacteriophage.

Conjugation

Two conjugal (mating) pairs (1 donor, 1 recipient) make cell-to-cell contact

Cytoplasmic bridge formed Plasmids (sections of genetic

material) are transferred Two monerans separate

* Not true sexual reproduction

How do Monerans survive unfavourable conditions?

Bacteria can become dormant (rest phase) Form endospores inside the cell A thickened wall forms around genetic

material and cytoplasm Remainder of cell eventually disintegrates Resistant to heat and not easily destroyed When conditions are suitable again, the

wall breaks down and activates the bacterium

Nutrition in True Nutrition in True BacteriaBacteria The success of bacteria is in part due to a The success of bacteria is in part due to a

wide variety of ways to obtain energywide variety of ways to obtain energy While most are heterotrophs, many are While most are heterotrophs, many are

autotrophsautotrophs Have developed different methods of Have developed different methods of

respiration to break down stored food and respiration to break down stored food and release energyrelease energy– Obligate aerobicObligate aerobic– Obligate AnaerobicObligate Anaerobic– Facultative anaerobe (alternate between as Facultative anaerobe (alternate between as

needed)needed)

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

Found everywhereFound everywhere Not able to consume and digest food; Not able to consume and digest food;

must absorb nourishment from their must absorb nourishment from their surroundings (materials that are surroundings (materials that are already partially digested)already partially digested)– Saprophytic- feed off dead organisms or Saprophytic- feed off dead organisms or

organic waste (decomposers)organic waste (decomposers)– Parasites – live on or in living organisms; Parasites – live on or in living organisms;

cause harm to the host in some waycause harm to the host in some way

Photosynthetic Photosynthetic AutotrophsAutotrophs

“self-feeders” – combine inorganic molecules from the environment with energy from the sun to make carbohydrates (glucose –C6H1206)

O2 is given off as waste (blue-green algae were important in producing this early in life’s history = creates atmosphere)

In the case of Monerans, they can also absorb energy directly from the sun due the fact that they are small and all sides of the cell are exposed to the environment

Photosynthetic Photosynthetic AutotrophsAutotrophs Often found in puddles, ponds, Often found in puddles, ponds,

streams, lakes, and moist places.streams, lakes, and moist places. Important producers in aquatic Important producers in aquatic

communities – basis for all of communities – basis for all of Earth’s food chains/websEarth’s food chains/webs

(Important role as decomposers – (Important role as decomposers – recycle nutrients through the recycle nutrients through the biosphere= heterotrophs)biosphere= heterotrophs)

Chemosynthetic Chemosynthetic AutotrophsAutotrophs Some true bacteria are autotrophic Some true bacteria are autotrophic

but not photosynthetic (do not use but not photosynthetic (do not use the sun’s energy to produce food)the sun’s energy to produce food)

Break down inorganic materials Break down inorganic materials like sulfur and nitrogen like sulfur and nitrogen

Can be important in converting S Can be important in converting S and N compounds so that plants and N compounds so that plants can use itcan use it

Nutrition in Ancient Nutrition in Ancient BacteriaBacteria Also known as archaebacteriaAlso known as archaebacteria Live under conditions that may be Live under conditions that may be

very similar to those found when very similar to those found when life was first evolving on Earth.life was first evolving on Earth.

All of the known ancient bacteria All of the known ancient bacteria live without oxygen and are live without oxygen and are autotrophsautotrophs

Some live where no other Some live where no other organisms can exist today.organisms can exist today.

Methane-producing Methane-producing BacteriaBacteria

Chemosynthetic (convert CO2 and H2 to methane)

Inhabit swamps, marshes, and other env’ts wherever there is a great deal of decaying plant matter.

Also inhabits the digestive tracts of mammals, especially grazers

Can be found in sewage treatment plants..

Bonus Bonus

Possible practical use: fuelPossible practical use: fuel Convert decomposing material Convert decomposing material

into a usable fuelinto a usable fuel

http://www.preciseenergy.com/biosystem.htm

Resource

ReviewReview

What would life on Earth be like if there were no decomposers to break down dead plant material, the bodies of dead animals, and the waste products generated by all living things?– Eventually, all the nutrients needed for life

would be bound up in this dead matter and waste.

– The raw materials needed to support new life would no longer be available.