Bacteria:
Bacteria are a type of microscopic organism, or microbe. Each one consists of a single cell. That cell has a simple structure. A bacterium does not contain a command center, or nucleus. Nor does it contain structures that do specific jobs, called organelles. That makes bacterial cells prokaryotes. (More complex plant and animal cells are eukaryotes.)
Bacteria live almost everywhere on Earth. Some dwell on the seafloor. Others make their home in soil. Still other bacteria live inside our bodies. In fact, there are more bacterial cells in the human body than human cells. Some of these bacteria do useful jobs. Bacteria in our guts, for instance, help digest food. The bacteria and other microbes living inside a person’s body make up that person’s microbiome.
Most bacteria are not harmful. But some are pathogens that make people sick. Bacteria cause some mild illnesses, like strep throat. But they can also cause serious diseases, such as cholera and tetanus. Many bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics. These medicines kill the bacteria or stop them from multiplying. Vaccines can also help protect against serious bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis. Bacteria play countless roles in the environment and beyond as well. Some bacteria in soil break down dead plants and animals.
This helps recycle nutrients, so other organisms can use them. Bacteria at the bottom of the ocean gobble up the greenhouse gas methane before it can enter the atmosphere. Many industries also rely on bacteria. Food manufacturers, for instance, use bacteria to convert milk into products like cheese or yogurt. And some drugs are made using bacteria. One day, bacteria may even produce the fuel that powers cars.
In a sentence:
The idea of “going with your gut” may be a lot more literal than you think — the bacteria that live inside our bellies can influence our mood, behavior and more:
check out the full list of scientist say:
Bacteria: (singular: bacterium) Single-celled organisms. These dwell nearly everywhere on Earth, from the bottom of the sea to inside other living organisms (such as plants and animals). Bacteria are one of the three domains of life on Earth.
Bacterial: Having to do with bacteria, single-celled organisms. These dwell nearly everywhere on Earth, from the bottom of the sea to inside animals.
Bacterium: (pl. bacteria) A single-celled organism. These dwell nearly everywhere on Earth, from the bottom of the sea to inside of plants and animals.
Behavior: The way something, often a person or other organism, acts towards others, or conducts itself.
Cell: (in biology) The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism. Typically, too small to see with the unaided eye, it consists of a watery fluid surrounded by a membrane or wall. Depending on their size, animals are made of anywhere from thousands to trillions of cells. Most organisms, such as yeasts, molds, bacteria and some algae, are composed of only one cell. (in telecommunications) A technology that relies on many base stations to relay signals. Each base station covers only a small area, which is known as a cell. Phones that rely on this system are typically referred to as cell phones.
Cholera: A bacterial disease that infects the small intestine, causing severe diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. It is spread by germs from feces that contaminate water or food.
Digest: (noun: digestion) To break down food into simple compounds that the body can absorb and use for growth. Some sewage-treatment plants harness microbes to digest — or degrade — wastes so that the breakdown products can be recycled for use elsewhere in the environment.
Eukaryote: Any organism whose cells have a nucleus. Eukaryotes include all multicellular creatures (such as plants, animals and fungi) as well as certain types of single-celled microorganisms.
Gut: An informal term for the gastrointestinal tract, especially the intestines.
Infection: A disease that can spread from one organism to another. It’s usually caused by some type of microbe.
Microbe: Short for microorganism. A living thing that is too small to see with the unaided eye, including bacteria, some fungi and many other organisms such as amoebas. Most consist of a single cell.
Microbiome: The scientific term for the entirety of the microorganisms — bacteria, viruses, fungi and more — that take up permanent residence within the body of a human or other animal.
Microscopic: An adjective for things too small to be seen by the unaided eye. It takes a microscope to view objects this small, such as bacteria or other one-celled organisms.
Nucleus: Plural is nuclei. (in biology) A dense structure present in many cells. Typically, a single rounded structure encased within a membrane, the nucleus, contains the genetic information.
Organelle: Specialized structures, such as mitochondria, found within a cell.
Organism: Any living thing, from elephants and plants to bacteria and other types of single-celled life.
Pathogen: An organism that causes disease.
Prokaryote: Any single-celled organism that does not have a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles.
Strep: Short for streptococcus. This is a family of bacteria — some of which can cause a fever, swollen tonsils and a severe sore throat, especially in children.
Strep throat: A bacterial infection caused by A Streptococcus germs. Symptoms include a sore throat, pain when swallowing, swollen tonsils and a fever of at least 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 degrees Celsius). People may also develop spots on the roof of the mouth. The disease can be treated with antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
Tetanus: An unusual type of bacterial infection that usually does not spread between infected individuals. The source of these germs is typically exposure to soil, dust or animal feces. The disease causes stiff, painful muscles throughout the body, including a cramping in the jaw (which is why it’s sometimes called “lockjaw”). Fevers, seizures, sweating and headaches may also occur.
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