Transcript PROKARIOTES
PROKARYOTES María Paula Vélez R Prokaryotes are the most numerous organisms on earth. They are found almost everywhere, from the skin of a fingertip to the waters of a thermal geyser to the freezing landscape of the Artic.The earliest fossils of prokaryotes indicate that they lived before other forms of life evolved. María Paula Vélez R Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms that do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. María Paula Vélez R María Paula Vélez R Archaebacteria • Archae are not like bacterias in many ways. For example, their cell walls do not have peptidoglycan (protein found in bacterias cell wall). • Archae were first discovered in extreme environments such as swamps, salt lakes and hot springs. María Paula Vélez R Archeal groups: 1. Methanogens: Convert hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide into methane gas. Oxygen is poisonous for them, so they can live only in places that lack oxygen. Example: methanogens that live in the intestinal tract of the cow. María Paula Vélez R 2. Halophiles: “salt-loving” archae that live in environments that have very high salt concentration such as the Dead sea. María Paula Vélez R 3. Thermoacidodophiles: live in very acid environments that have also very high temperatures. Some can live up to 110°C and at a ph less than 2 (strong acid). They can live near volcanic vents or hydrothermal vents. María Paula Vélez R Eubacteria Most known prokaryotes are eubacteria. They occur in many shapes and sizes and have different genetic characteristics. There are three main ways to classify them: - By cell wall - By shape - By biochemical properties and evolutionary relations. María Paula Vélez R Cell wall: Gram-positive Simpler and have more Peptidoglycan. Gram negative complex cell wall and small amount of peptidoglycan. María Paula Vélez R Shape: María Paula Vélez R Biochemical properties and evolutionary relations: - Proteobacteria (most are symbiotic) Gram positive (most cause diseases) Cyanobacteria (photosynthetic bacterias) Spirochetes (gram-negative) Chlamydia (gram-negative cocci) María Paula Vélez R HELPFUL BACTERIA María Paula Vélez R HARMFUL BACTERIA María Paula Vélez R Homework Investigate: 1. Two diseases caused by bacterias. 2. What are antbiotics. María Paula Vélez R