Bacteria and Archaea
Bacteria Function
Archaea and Prokaryotes in the Environment
Prokaryotic Function
Bacteria Structure
Technology
Biosphere
Research
Chemical Recycling
Internal Organization and DNA
Reproduction
Motility
Cell-Surface
Conjunction and Plasmids
Specifics on Plasmids
Genetic Diversity
Metabolism
Archaea: Extremophiles
Prokaryotic Ecological Interactions
Traits of Archaea
Prokaryotic Impact on Humans
Researchers use prokaryotes to remove pollutants from soil, air, or water. This is called bioremediation.
Researchers can create biodegradable plastics from bacteria that produce natural plastics
Researchers are seeking to reduce the use of petroleum and other fossil fuels by engineering bacteria that can produce ethanol
Genetic engineering can be used to modify bacteria to produce vitamins, antibiotics, hormones, and other products that are beneficial to people
Prokaryotic CRISPR-cas system has been developed into a powerful new tool for altering genes in virtually any organism
Bacteria can be used to make milk, cheese, yogurt, beer, wine, and pepperoni.
Not all prokaryotes deserve a negative connotation because not all are harmful bacteria
Prokaryotes play crucial roles in the biospheres existance
If prokaryotes disappeared, many species would be driven to extinction
Chemoheterotrophic prokaryotes function as decomposers
Prokaryotes can convert some molecules to forms that can be taken up by other organisms
Prokaryotes play a major role in the process of continual recycling of chemical elements between living and nonliving components of the environment
Taxis is the ability to move towards and away from a stimulus. About half of bacteria are capable of taxis.
Fimbriae are appendages that enable some prokaryotes to attach to surfaces or other cells.
Bacterial Flagella is a tail like structure that helps the bacteria move. It is composed of a motor, hook, and filament.
Gram stain can categorize many bacterial species based on their cell wall
Gram Positive bacteria stain purple because their cell walls are simple and not as thick as gram negative bacteria cell walls.
Contain peptidoglycan, a polymer that encloses the entire bacterium and anchors other molecules that extend from its surface
Some have specialized membranes that preform metabolic functions and have simple compartments that store metabolic by-products.
Less DNA in genome and circular chromosomes. Genome located in the nucleoid.
Lack complex compartmentalization
Reproduce by Binary Fission, a process where a parent cell divides into two daughter cells and so on.
Most can reproduce in 1-3 hours
Can reproduce quickly in favorable environments
Prokaryotes can metabolize nitrogen in many forms and can preform a process called Nitrogen Fixation that converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.
Metabolic cooperation between prokaryotic cells allows them to use environmental resources they could not use as individual cells.
Prokaryotic metabolism varies with respect to oxygen.
Genetic recombination is the combining of DNA from two sources. This increases genetic diversity
in Transformation, the genome and possibly phenotype of a prokaryotic cell are altered by the uptake of foreign DNA from its surroundings. This increases genetic diversity.
Rapid reproduction and mutation increase genetic diversity among bacteria
Plasmids can be R plasmids, F plasmids, and play a role in antibiotic resistance
In bacteria, the DNA is always transferred in one way; one cells donated the DNA and one receives it.
Conjunction is the process where DNA is transferred between two prokaryotic cells that are temporarily joined. 
Chromosomal genes can be transferred during conjugation when the donor cell's F factor is integrated into the chromosome.
Resistant genes are often carried by plasmids known as R plasmids.
F factor is a particular piece of DNA that allows the ability to form pili and donate DNA. In its own form, it is called the F plasmid.
Some Archaea live in extreme environments and are called extremophiles
Archaea have followed a separate evolutionary path from bacteria for a long time
Archaea share certain traits with bacteria and others with eukaryotes
Extreme Thermophiles thrive in very hot environments like a volcanic spring
Many other archaea live in more moderate environments
Extreme halophiles live in highly saline environments (salty) like the dead sea
Prokaryotes can also participate in mutualism and commensalism
Parasites that cause diseases are known as pathogens and archaea can participate in parasitic relationships
Prokaryotes often form symbiotic associations with much larger organisms
All pathogenic bacteria are bacteria and have a negative impact on humans
Prokaryotes can be both beneficial and harmful to humans
Humans can depend on mutualistic prokaryotes such as the ones in out intestines.
Gram negative have a more complex wall that is thinner, so they remain pink when stained.
Some have plasmids; smaller rings of independently replicating DNA molecules
In Transduction, phages carry prokaryotic genes from one host cell to another
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria with the R plasmid survive antibiotic treatment and reproduce.
Methanogens release methane as a by-product of their unique ways of obtaining energy.
The very existence of an ecosystem can depend on prokaryotes
Comparison of the three domains
Bacteria
Eukarya
Archaea
Major Nutritional Modes
Chemoautotropes
Photoheterotropes
Photoautotroph
Chemoheterotropes
Obtain energy from the light
Obtain carbon from a CO2 or related compound
Obtain energy from chemicals
Obtain carbon from a CO2 or related compound
Obtain energy from light
Obtain carbon from organic compounds
Obtain energy from chemicals
Obtain carbon from an organic compounds
Prokaryotes VS Eukaryotes
Compare
Contrast
DNA, ribosomes, cytoplast, plasma membrane,
Sometimes they have cell walls
Prokaryotic cells are much smaller than eukaryotic cells
Prokaryotes do not have a nucleus like eukaryotes
Both have the 7 characteristics of life
Prokaryotic cells make up bacteria and archaea while eukaryotic cells make up animals, plants, protists, and fungi
Archaea have no nuclear envelope, membrane-enclosed organelles, or peptidoglycan in cell wall.
Archaea have histones associated with DNA in some species, have circular chromosomes, and have some species that grow above 100 degrees.
Archaea have Some branches hydrocarbons, sevral kinds of RNA polymerase, use initiator amino acid methionine for protein synthesis, introns present in some genes, are not inhibited by antibiotics.
Bacteria have unbranched hydrocarbons, one kind of RNA polymerase, use initiator amino acid formyl methionine for protein synthesis, introns are rarely present in some genes, are inhibited by antibiotics
Bacteria have histones associated with DNA in some species, have circular chromosomes, and do not grow above 100 degrees.
Bacteria have no nuclear envelope, membrane-enclosed organelles, but do have peptidoglycan in cell wall.
Eukarya have unbranched hydrocarbons, several kinds of RNA polymerase, use initiator amino acid methionine for protein synthesis, introns are present in many genes, are not inhibited by antibiotics,
Eukarya have histones associated with DNA, have linear chromosomes, and do not grow above 100 degrees.
Eukarya have a nuclear envelope, membrane-enclosed organelles, but do not have peptidoglycan in cell wall.