05/01/2024
5 facts about bacteria you probably never knew.
Bacteria are older than dinosaurs.
They have been around for at least 3.5 billion years, making them the oldest known life form on the planet.
Bacteria can survive ten thousand times the dose of radiation that would kill a human. Some bacteria, such as Deinococcus radiodurans, can even repair their own DNA after being exposed to extreme radiation.
Bacteria are of five types based on their shape, structure: spherical (cocci), rod (bacilli), spiral (spirilla), comma (vibrios) or corkscrew (spirochaetes). Some bacteria, such as E. coli, can change their shape depending on the environment.
Bacteria are essential for life on Earth. They help in the nitrogen cycle, which provides plants with the nitrates they need to produce amino acids. They also aid in digestion, immunity, and bioremediation.
Bacteria are very adaptable and can develop resistance to antibiotics. One of the deadliest resistant bacteria is MRSA, which killed 19,000 Americans in 2005 alone. MRSA uses carotenoids, the same chemicals that give fruits and vegetables their color, to fight off our immune system.
That's all for today, I hope you learnt something new about bacteria.