Bacterial Cell

Morphologies and
Arrangements

What is a bacteria?
Prokaryotic microorganism that is too small to be
seen without an unaided eye
Bacteria are found everywhere from hot springs to
on your own skin.
How big do you think bacteria are?
They range in size from 0.2 2.0 micrometers
That is super small because there are 1,000,000

What is a Prokaryote?
A prokaryote is a unicellular organism
Has a single circular chromosome of DNA
DNA NOT enclosed within a membrane
Does NOT have membrane-enclosed organelles.

How do we identify bacteria?

Bacterial cell morphology
Bacterial cell arrangement

What is a Morphology?
The form and structure of a particular organism,
organ, tissue or cell.
This includes the shape and other externally
visible characteristics of the cell or colony of
bacteria.

Why is Morphology
Important?
Helps identify bacterial species
May assist motility of bacteria
May have selective benefits for survival of
bacteria

Types of Morphologies
1) Bacillus = rod/cigar shaped

Types of Morphologies
2.) Coccus = spherical shaped
EX: Streptococcus

Types of Morphologies
3.) Coccobacilli = potato/cigar butt shaped
Shape in between a Coccus and a Bacillus
EX: Chlamydia trachomatis

Types of Morphologies
4.) Spirilla = Spiral shaped
EX: Spirillum minus = rat bite fever

Types of Morphologies
5.) Vibrios = slightly curved rods
EX: Cholera

What is Cell Arrangement

mean?
Determined by the number of planes in which the
division occurs and on whether the cells separate
after the division
Why do bacteria divide?
They divide because that is how they reproduce
This is called binary fission

SO.. Which ones undergo these

multicellular associations?
Cocci
Bacilli

Division Patterns Among

Cocci

Division patterns Among

Bacilli
Bacilli do NOT exhibit tetrads or sacrinae like cocci
do.
Streptobacillus

What Determines the shape or

arrangement of a bacteria?
It is determined by heredity!
Most bacteria are monomorphic
This means that they typically maintain a single shape or
arrangement

However, some bacteria are pleomorphic

This means that they might have several different shapes
DO YOU THINK IT IS EASIER TO ID BACTERIA THAT ARE
PLEOMORPHIC OR MONOMORPHIC ?

Recap:
Morphology refers to the shape of the bacterial
cell
Arrangement describes the different types of
divisions that may occur
5 Types of
Morphologies:
1.) Bacillus
2.) Coccus
3.) Coccibacilli
4.) Vibrios
5.) Spirilla

5 Types of
Arrangements in
Cocci:
1.) Diplococcus
2.) Streptococcus
3.) Tetrads
4.) Sacrina
5.)
Staphylococcus

_________ is the term used to describe

the shape of the bacterial cell.

A. Cell Arrangement
B. Cell Morphologies
C. Cell Colony
D. Cell Differentiation

How do bacteria cells

reproduce?

A. Sexual Reproduction
B. Binary Reproduction
C. Binary Fission
D. Sexual Fission

Bacteria are _________ cells.

A. Eukaryotic
B. Prokaryotic
C. Mitotic
D. Karyokotic

Diplococcus and Staphylococcus

are two different kinds of what?

A. Cell Arrangements
B. Cell Morphologies
C. Cell Colonies
D. Cell Differentiations

Which one is a Coccibacilli?

Which one is a Vibrio-shaped

cell?

Which one is a bacilli?

Which is a Cocci-shaped?

Which is a spirilla?

Which Division is
Diplococcus?

Which Division is
Staphylococcus?

Which Division is a Tetrad?

Which Division is a
Streptococcus?

Which is a Sacrina?