- Bacteria are very small, single-celled organisms containing genetic material surrounded by a cell wall. Found in air,water,soil and food as well as inside and outside all living organisms.
Structure of a bacteria:
- They require moisture, food and warmth (different bacteria are suited to different temperatures).
- Some are aerobic (require oxygen). Others are anaerobic (do not require oxygen).
- They reproduce by binary fission (splitting in two). In good conditions they can reproduce every 20 minutes. Growth rates can be slowed by lack of food or space, unsuitable temperatures or a build up of toxins from bacteria.