Your body hosts trillions of bacteria that help digest food, produce vitamins (like B and K), and train your immune system.
Unlike animal or plant cells, bacteria are . They lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. Their structure typically includes:
Bacteria reproduce through (splitting in two). Because they reproduce so quickly—some species every 20 minutes—they evolve rapidly. This has led to the global challenge of antibiotic resistance , where "superbugs" evolve defenses against the drugs designed to kill them. 5. Shapes and Classification Scientists often classify bacteria by their shape: Cocci: Spheres (e.g., strep throat). Bacilli: Rods (e.g., anthrax). Spirilla: Spirals (e.g., cholera). bacteria
We use bacteria to make food (yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut), treat sewage, and even produce medicines like insulin. 3. The Bad: Pathogens
While often associated with illness, the vast majority of bacteria are either harmless or beneficial: Your body hosts trillions of bacteria that help
Tail-like structures for swimming and hair-like structures for sticking to surfaces. 2. The Good: Essential Life Support
A protective layer made of peptidoglycan (a mix of sugars and amino acids). which plants need to grow.
Bacteria are nature’s recyclers. They break down dead organic matter and "fix" nitrogen in the soil, which plants need to grow.