General Characteristics of Bacteria

1. Some species of bacteria can cause dangerous diseases in humans, such as tuberculosis, tetanus, diphtheria, and cholera. This disease has claimed many lives. Therefore, most humans argue that bacteria are harmful organisms.
2. However, some other bacterial species actually have benefits for humans. Example: the food spoilage bacteria that exist in the colon helps us in the process of digestion of food.
3. Bacteria are organisms that can be found throughout the earth. Most bacteria live in soil, water, and air. Some other bacteria can live and grow in the body of other organisms such as animals and humans.
4. Bacteria are single-celled organisms (unicellular) so that their size is very small (microscopic). To be able to see the bacteria, we must use a special tool such as a microscope.
5. In general, there are 3 body forms of bacteria. a. Oval or round (coccus) b. Stem or cylinder (bacillus) c. Spiral (spirillum).
   
6. Some bacteria have body shapes like yarn and branches. But there are only a few.
7. Bacteria have very thin cell walls composed of cellulose and chitin. As additional protection, bacterial cells are often surrounded by transparent capsules.
8. In the cell wall, there is a protoplasm that is similar in structure to the protoplasm possessed by plants. In it, there are organelles cells with different functions.
9. Bacteria that live in a liquid usually have a motion device called flagella. Flagella serves to encourage and facilitate bacteria to move in all directions.
10. The structure and amount of flagella possessed by bacteria are very diverse. Flagella can be an indicator to identify and classify bacteria.
    
11. Most bacteria proliferate in asexual ways. They divide into several parts and each piece of the body will grow into a new individual.
12. Bacterial cell division can occur at an incredible rate. Usually, they split every 15 or 20 minutes. This division depends on the temperature, humidity and amount of food available.
13. In addition to cell division, bacteria can also multiply by using spores. Spores are used by bacteria to multiply if cell division is not possible to do (eg, when extreme environmental conditions or available food is insufficient).
14. Spores are produced by bacterial protoplasm. Spores contain only a small amount of water so they can survive in various environmental conditions. In fact, milk that is processed by pasteurization can kill all bacteria's active cells. However, bacterial spores will survive.
15. Some bacteria can breed sexually by conjugation method. Male and female bacteria will be attached to each other by bridges. Then, the male bacteria will transfer the fertilizing factor to the female bacteria. After that, the two bacteria back apart and do cell division.
16. Almost all bacteria can not make their own food. These bacteria are called heterotrophic bacteria.
17. Heterotrophic bacteria that get their food from dead plants or bodies of animals or feces or other organisms waste products are called saprophytic bacteria.
18. Whereas, if these bacteria obtain food directly from animal and plant cells called the parasitic bacteria.
19. Heterotrophic bacteria take organic compounds such as cellulose and sugar from their food.
20. Bacteria also have enzymes that help them in the process of digesting food. Enzymes in bacteria serve to change the complex food substances that are not soluble in water to be simple and soluble in water.
21. Several types of bacteria can make their own food. These bacteria are called autotrophic bacteria.
22. There are two types of autotrophic bacteria: a. chemosynthetic b. photosynthetic.
23. The chemosynthetic bacteria derive energy used to make food through various chemical oxidation reactions.
24. Photosynthetic bacteria have a purple and green pigment that allows them to absorb the energy of sunlight to make food. These bacteria make food through the process of photosynthesis that is similar to plants.
    
25. Chemosynthetic bacteria are important for various cycles that occur in nature.
26. Sulfuric bacteria convert hydrogen sulfide (resulting from protein breakdown) to sulfur and hen sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid will experience a reaction in the soil to form other compounds as a source of sulfur for plants. Plants use sulfur to grow and breed normally.

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