General Information

• The prokaryotes are a group

of organisms that lack a
cell nucleus (= karyon), or
any other membrane-bound
organelles
• Few prokaryotes such as
myxobacteria have
multicellular stages in their
life cycles
• Prokaryotes are the earliest
and most primitive forms of
life on earth
 General Information
• As organized in the
Three Domain System, prokaryotes
include bacteria and archaeans.
• Able to live and thrive in various types of
environments including extreme habitats
such as hydrothermal vents, hot
springs, swamps, wetlands, and the
guts of animals
• The prokaryotes are divided into two
domains: the bacteria and the archaea
 Archaea
• They are a group of single-
celled microorganisms
• A single individual or
species from this domain is
called an archaeon
• They have no cell nucleus
or any other organelles
• Archaea have an
independent
evolutionary history and
show many differences in
their biochemistry
Eubacteria
• The bacteria are a large group
of unicellular, prokaryote,
microorganisms.
• Wide range of shapes, ranging
from spheres to rods and
spirals
• Bacteria are ubiquitous
• There are approximately ten
times as many bacterial cells in
the human flora of bacteria as
there are human cells in the
body
 Eubacteria
• Large numbers of
bacteria on the skin and
as gut flora

• The vast majority of the

bacteria in the body are
rendered harmless by the
protective effects of the
immune system
(parasites), and a few are
beneficial
Types of Eubacteria
• Heterotrophs -they feed on
organic compounds , produced by
other organisms

• Saprophytes- obtain nutrients

from dead organisms or break
down organic matter

• Heterophic – aerobes :oxygen

requiring / Heterophic-
anaerobes: can live without
oxygen
 Prokaryotic Cell Structure

• Prokaryotic cells are not as complex as

eukaryotic cells

• Have no true nucleus as the DNA is not

contained within a membrane or
separated from the rest of the cell

• DNA is coiled up in a region of the

cytoplasm called the nucleoid
 Prokaryotic Cell Structure
• Capsule - Found in some
bacterial cells, this additional
outer covering protects the cell
• Cell Wall - Outer covering of
most cells
• Cytoplasm - A gel-like
substance composed mainly of
water that also contains
enzymes, salts, cell
components, and various
organic molecules.
 Prokaryotic Cell Structure
• Cell Membrane or Plasma Membrane -
Surrounds the cell's cytoplasm and
regulates the flow of substances in and
out of the cell.

• Pili - Hair-like structures on the surface

of the cell that attach to other bacterial
cells..

• Flagella - Long, whip-like protrusion that

aids in cellular locomotion.
 Prokaryotic Cell Structure
• Ribosomes - Cell structures responsible for
protein production.

• Plasmids - Gene carrying, circular DNA structures

that are not involved in reproduction.

• Nucleiod Region - Area of the cytoplasm that

contains the single bacterial DNA molecule.

• Endospores – it has protective function

 Binary Fission
• Most prokaryotes reproduce
asexually through a process called
binary fission

• DNA molecule replicating and both

copies attaching to the cell
membrane.

• Cell membrane begins to grow

between the two DNA molecules.

• A cell wall then forms between the

two DNA molecules dividing the
original cell into two identical
daughter cells.
 Adaptation
• Bacteria changes significantly under the influence of environment
• Under unfavorable conditions some bacteria form spores. A thick
wall covers the cell and all cell processes stop until suitable
conditions for life are present.
• Spores are
extremely
vigorous.
Bacteria
can restore
their normal
functions even
after hundreds
of years spent
in the form of
spores.
 Cyanobacteria
• Cyanobacteria is a phylum of bacteria
that obtain their energy through
photosynthesis.
• It is also known as blue-green algae,
blue-green bacteria or cyanophyta. The
name "cyanobacteria" comes from the
color of the bacteria (Greek: κυανός
(kyanós) = blue).
• They are a significant component of the
marine nitrogen cycle. They are a
significant component of the marine
nitrogen cycle; They are also found in
habitats other than the marine
environment
 Cyanobacteria
 Very close in structure and function to the true bacteria.
They have all the structures typical for bacteria, except
the flagella.

 Have a lot of membrane lamellae (thylakoids) situated in

the cytoplasm.

 Contain green pigment chlorophyll which help them to

absorb energy, photosynthesize and obtain organic
substances. This is why cyanobacteria are called
autotrophs.
 Cyanobacteria

Classification:
• The cyanobacteria were traditionally
classified by morphology into five sections.
• First three are Chroococcales,
Pleurocapsales,Oscillatoriales.
• Latter two are Nostocales and
Stigonematales
 Importance of bacteria
• Bacteria play an important role in nature. They are a major factor in
the process of decay.

• Some bacteria are nitrogen-fixing – they capture nitrogen from the

air and include it in the synthesis of proteins.

• Bacteria inhabit the digestive systems of both humans and animals.

In many cases they aid the breakdown of cellulose, contained in
food.

• Cyanobacteria are most widely spread in soil and in polluted water

basins. Their presence is an indicator of the level of water polution.
 Health Risk
• Certain cyanobacteria produce cyanotoxins which are toxins that
can be dangerous to humans and animals.

• Several cases of human poisoning have been documented.

• Recent studies says that significant exposure to high levels of

cyanobacteria causes ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease)

• Cyanobacteria cause various infectious illnesses in humans and

animals like dysentery, tetanus, plague, lung inflammation,
tuberculosis, etc.