Download 4th period - Raleigh Charter High School

Bacteria
A Prokaryotic Saga
Bioremediation
• Bioremediation refers to the use of living organisms to clean
up pollutants and polluted areas
o Natural
 Has been occurring throughout the history of life
 Decomposition of organic matter; natural cycles
o Managed
 When man steps in and manages the use of
bioremediation
o Ex situ v. In situ : off site v. on site
Examples
• Composting
o the creation of a decomposing-friendly environment
o bacteria break down matter as they would, but faster
• Hyperthermophillic bacteria
o Help breakdown of Fe(III) and Mn(IV)
• Petroleum decomposing bacteria
o Promotion of their growth can help clean up oil spills in
the ocean and along coastlines
• Ethion (pesticide) decomposing bacteria
o Major contaminant of rural Australia
o When grown in a salt medium, 2 species can break this
down
• Ability of bacteria to decompose aromatic pollutants
Methanogens & Ruminants
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Anaerobic microorganisms
Archaea
Byproduct: methane gas
Very low tolerance for
oxygen
*Sometimes found in humans
• Mammals which break
down food in two
processes.
• Chew their food twice,
second time (cud)
• Gas is caused by
methanogens
Bioluminescent Bacteria
• Luminescense is the emission of light by an object
• Lux genes code for the enzyme luciferase
-High cell density induces the enzyme
-homoserine lactone
• Reporter Protein and Sensor
- Releases bioluminescent energy
- Check for presence of chemicals
• Check for clean up of oil spills
Animal Symbiosis
• Mitochondria
-small prokaryotes within larger ones
- respiration inside host cell
• Benefits
- engulfed cells dependent on molecules
- host cell dependent on ATP
Symbiosis
• Mutualism: Plover bird and crocodile
• Commensalism: Mosses and trees
• Parasitism: Tape worm and humans