Chapter 27 - Bacteria and Archaea

Normal habitats

________- the lands and seas where most other animals live.

hundreds of species

People rely on mutualistic prokaryotes, which include ________ that dwell in our intestines and aid in food digestion.

Bacilli

________ (plural, bacillus) are rod- shaped prokaryotes.

Metabolic cooperation

________ occurs in surface- coating biofilms containing several species.

Natural selection

________ has been (and continues to be) used in a variety of situations, and settings, resulting in today's great variety.

Molecular systematics

________ is assisting scientists in classifying prokaryotes and discovering new clades.

Prokaryotic organisms

________ are also very well adapted to more extreme environments.

Spiral prokaryotes

________ include spirilla, which can range from comma- like forms to loose coils, and spirochetes, which are corkscrew- shaped (seen above) (colorized SEMs)

eukaryotes

Prokaryotes, unlike ________, may metabolize nitrogen in a variety of ways.

Horizontal gene transfer

________ can transmit virulence genes to innocuous species or strains.

success of prokaryotic organisms

Adaptations in structure and function contribute to the ________ Prokaryotes were the earliest creatures to dwell on Earth.

Prokaryotes

________ have the potential to be employed in bioremediation as well as the manufacture of polymers, vitamins, antibiotics, and other goods.

Nitrogen fixation

________ is the process by which some organisms convert atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.

Prokaryotes

________ are essential components of the biosphere.