Video - Bacterial structure and functions

Bacteria are prokaryotic, single-celled organisms that are found almost anywhere in the environment. Some are known to cause diseases, whereas others live as normal flora in different body parts such as the gut, skin, and genital organs.

Bacteria have cell walls for maintaining their shape and for protection, also from which we can determine whether they're Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Bacteria have another layer called the plasma membrane, located underneath the cell wall. The plasma membrane encloses the cytoplasm and plays important roles such as moving materials in and out of the cell, respiration, and photosynthesis. Inside the cytoplasm are ribosomes that synthesize proteins, the nucleoid which contains most of the bacteria's genetic material, and plasmids which contain genes that confer a selective advantage, such as antibiotic resistance.