Cell Wall = Maintains shape and
prevents osmotic lysis (bursting)
Flagellum = For movement
Bacterial Reproduction
Bacteria reproduce
asexually by binary fission
In industry, this process
can be accelerated in
large fermenters e.g. GM
bacteria to make insulin
and making yoghurt
Right conditions, reproduction/growth is rapid.
Can lead to food spoilage and disease
Some bacteria consume food (organic
nutrients) while some make their own, they
can survive on a wide range of energy
sources and they can exploit a wide range of
habitats - This helps them to survive
Aseptic Techniques
Wear disposable gloves/wash hands
(before and after working with bacteria
Disinfect work area
Never leave lids off petri dishes
with bacterial cultures growing
Sterilise (with heat) all of the equipment
Viruses
Very small
Non-living and can only
reproduce inside other
living cells
Can only attack
specific cells
Can infect plants,
animals and bacterial
cells (bacteriophages)
Virus Reproduction
1.Virus attaches to specific host cell, 2.Injects its genetics
into cell, 3.It uses cell's own components to make new
viruses, 4.Host cell splits open, releasing viruses