Like all organisms, bacteria need energy, and they can acquire this energy through a number of different ways. Learn more about bacteria nutrition in this learning module produced by CK-12.
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Bacteria, being single-celled prokaryotic organisms, do not have a male or female version. Bacteria reproduce asexually. In asexual reproduction, the "parent" produces a genetically identical copy of itself. Learn more about bacteria reproduction in this learning module produced by CK-12.
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This video segment from a WPSU documentary Liquid Assets connects public health to the availability of clean and safe drinking water and elaborates on the threats our bodies face due to increasing kinds and quantities of pollutants.
Travel underground for an up-close look at the ants, amoebas, and bacteria that maintain healthy soil. Glimpse this microscopic world and learn about the symbiotic relationship between fungi and tree roots. [2:49] Support materials for students is provided.
This interesting site focuses on unusual microbes that inhabit an extreme environmental niche on our planet. Individual articles are written in a tone suitable for general audience.
This resource provides photographs or video clips of the seafloor. The images are organized under the topics, geologic features, bacteria mats, hydrates and habitat. Quick Time is required.
In this video from Evolution, an exploration of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in the Russian prison system highlights one reason it is important to understand evolution.
Students are introduced to the growing worldwide environmental problems that stem from plastic waste. What they learn about microplastics and the typical components of the U.S. water treatment process prepares them to conduct three engaging associated activities. During the lesson, students become more aware of the pervasiveness and value of plastic as well as the downstream pollution and health dangers. They learn how plastic materials don’t go away, but become microplastic pollution that accumulates in water resources as well as human and other animal bodies. They examine their own plastic use, focusing on what they discard daily, and think about better ways to produce or package those items to eliminate or reduce their likelihood of ending up as microplastic pollution. A concluding writing assignment reveals their depth of comprehension. The lesson is enhanced by arranging for a local water treatment plant representative to visit the class for Qs and As. In three associated activities, students design/test microplastic particle filtering methods for commercial products, create mini wastewater treatment plant working models that remove waste and reclaim resources from simulated wastewater, and design experiments to identify the impact of microplastics on micro-invertebrates.
Explore some of the different habitats in which prokaryotes live. [2:33]
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Find out about the difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and learn about bacteria and archaea in this video. [6:50]
Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.
This simulation allows users to explore how a protein of interest, red
fluorescent protein, can be purified from cell lysate using hydrophobic
column chromatography.
Student teams practice water quality analysis through turbidity measurement and coliform bacteria counts. They use information about water treatment processes to design prototype small-scale water treatment systems and test the influent (incoming) and effluent (outgoing) water to assess how well their prototypes produce safe water to prevent water-borne illnesses.
This animation describes the structure of a prokaryotic cell and how it is altered to allow binary fission to occur.
In this activity, students act as environmental engineers involved with the clean up of a toxic spill. Using bioremediation as the process, students select which bacteria they will use to eat up the pollutant spilled. Students learn how engineers use bioremediation to make organism degrade harmful chemicals. Engineers must make sure bacteria have everything they need to live and degrade contaminants for bioremediation to happen. Students learn about the needs of living things by setting up an experiment with yeast. The scientific method is reinforced as students must design the experiment themselves making sure they include a control and complete parts of a formal lab report.
In this video segment adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, microbiologist Bonnie Bassler shares her discovery that bacteria coordinate group activity by communicating through chemical signals. [4:49]
Students learn about water quality testing and basic water treatment processes and technology options. Biological, physical and chemical treatment processes are addressed, as well as physical and biological water quality testing, including testing for bacteria such as E. coli.
In this simulation, users will practice transforming bacterial cells with a
recombinant plasmid using the heat shock method.
General information on the cyanobacteria, the blue-green algae and the features that make them different from prokaryotic bacteria. Also included are pages that point to more specific info, like life history and fossil records.
This site provides an introduction to bacteria and examines fossil records, life history and ecology, systematics, and morphology.
Berkley offers an introduction to archaebacteria--ancient bacteria--including the history of the topic, scientific findings, and where to find archaeans. Includes images and links.