Download Bacteria Basics

KEY
Bacteria Basics
1.) Label the following diagram of a typical bacterium using the following terms: cell membrane, cell
wall, cytoplasm, flagellum, genetic material, ribosome.
2.) Is the bacterium in the diagram a bacillus, coccus, or spirillum? Explain. ___bacillus as it has an
overall rod shape__.
3.) Suppose that this bacterium was a streptobacillus. What kind of colonies would you expect it to
form? ____fusiform or chains___.
4.) This bacterium is Gram -. What happens when it is subjected to Gram staining? ___the cellular
membrane will turn red as it has carbohydrates and lipids in its outer membrane___.
5.) This bacterium is a facultative aerobe. What process or processes would you expect it to use to
break down food? Explain. ____facultative aerobes can use oxygen but don’t need oxygen. This
bacterium will probably fermentation but may do respiration as it is an aerobe not an anaerobe
(energy production without oxygen)____.
6.) A bacterial colony may be made up of millions of cells. What is so special about each cell in the
bacterial colony? ___they are all clones__.
7.) From what does each colony arise? ___one single bacterium that undergoes binary fission___.
8.) Explain how streaking can lead to the formation of colonies.__streaking lays down less and less
cells the further along the streak you go. Near the end og a streak single cells will be deposited,
which can lead to the formation of colonies__.