If bacteria are everywhere, why are colonies of bacteria not growing on everything around us?
337172
If you mean a round, whitish colony like you see in petri dishes, it's because they require moisture, salts, and nutrition to divide rapidly and maintain that kind of population.  You *will* find colonies of bacteria anywhere that those conditions apply, such as in the mouth, in decomposing animal and plant matter, in stagnant ponds, etc.  There are small, microscopic, colonies and single bacteria everywhere, waiting to exploit that situation.
243864
We are humans, just another creature here on earth. We evolved from bacteria. But for some strange reason, some people think a fictional man in the sky put everyone here.
136236
Hi there, \n\nMany types of bacteria undergo cell division by a procedure called 'Binary Fission'\nYeast does not undergo cell division, however, it reproduces through 'Budding'\n\nHope this helps. If not, I'd be glad to assist you further. Bye!!\n\nrule wid style n luv@vinny
777489
Because some bacteria produce spores as a way of encapsulating their genetic material in times of stress, and as they are dying. New, rapidly dividing cells in a new , nutrient rich, culture do not need to produce spores. As the nutrients are used up, the bacteria will begin to produce spores to conserve the genetic material. These spores will lay dormant until placed in the correct environment, and will then revive to grow into new bacteria. Some spores can survive autoclave sterilisation in this way - so its a very effective species survival strategy.
41036
Bacteria have very short life cycles so adapt very quickly and many species do live in the artic. Like any process in coll temperatures the activity is decreases due to a decrease in kinetic energy, so activity is low.
591012
well...\nu could talk about how little we know about whether organisms like bacteria and viruses have consicousness and a probable effect that might happen if we change their genomes . we dont really know whether those kind of organisms have an "individuality" or anything, so thats where i would start off from.\nhope this helped
536246
Because of bacteria and germs growing in it.
762275
usually you can see the colonies in the agar. they'll be kind of circular spots in the agar. then you can put them under a microscope and see what kind of bacteria it is.
6888
First off jamesmusik84's is completely wrong. Please don't consider any of it. The second answer is along the right path, except I have no idea what the reference to antibiotic is suggesting and some viruses have RNA genomes but many more have DNA genomes. And as far as bacteria go, both RNA and DNA are present inside there cells.\n\nSo, the answer to your question. Let's start this way: Bacteria are small single-celled organisms. Unllike eukaryotic cells (like the ones that make up animals, plants, fungi and many single-celled organisms such as yeasts) which package their genetic material (DNA) in membrane structures called nuclei, bacteria (which are also referred to as prokaryotes) don't have a nucleus. Bacteria also don't have other organelles which are found in eukaryotes, such as endoplasmic reticulum, mitochandria, chloroplasts, golgi bodies, etc. But like eukaryotes, bacteria do have an outer lipid membrane.\n\nSo, you can think of bacteria of little fluid filled sacs. Along with eukaryotic, bacteria are an example of "cells" which are the smallest unit of living things on earth.\n\nViruses, on the other hand, do not have an outer membrane. They don't the capacity to make their own proteins. They don't have the capacity ot replicate or metabolize on their own -- of which bacteria (and eukaryotes) do. It's for this reason that we don't consider viruses "living" things. Viruses have to "infect" a cell -- injecting its genetic material inside -- and use the cell's metabolic machinery to reproduce.\n\nViruses are essentially small protein "capsules" that have a piece of genetic information packaged inside. Because viruses are required to infect a cell to propogate themselves, they are classified as obligate intra-cellular pathogens.\n\nViruses tend to only infect specific cell types. Some infect bacteria. Some infect plants. Others infect animals. The specificity of what a virus can infect is goes beyond whether they can infect bacteria, plants or animals. Usually viruses have to infect a very specific animal, plant or bacteria. And even in the case of viruses that infect animals and plants, not only do the infect specif animals, they are usually limited to a few cell types whithin that animal.\n\nTake HIV for example: to the best of my knowledge HIV only infects humans (i.e. the "H" in HIV -- Human Immunodeficiency Virus). But it doesn't just infect any human cell. HIV only infects white blood cells -- specifically a class of white blood cells called T cells (there are many other "classes" of white blood cells including such things as B cells, NK cells, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils and macrophages).\n\nI hope this sheds some light on the matter.
332737
This is interesting question. My opinion is: why not!! Maybe some forms of life that we don't know. There is some life forms even 11 km under the sea, under extremely high pressure. Some kinds of bacteria live without air too. Fish don't use the same air like us, but they are alive. There is so many different forms of life even on planet Earth, so why not on other planets? After all, if we did not see something, don't mean this don't exist!
897178
Usually its ambient gram-positive bacteria or any of a host of fungi that float in the air on dust and dead skin cells.  Poor sterile technique can cause these to contaminate tubes.  You should always briefly heat up the lids of tubes over a flame before and after adding anything to them to create and outward convection of air.  Furthermore, you need to heat innoculation loops over flame until they are red-hot before scraping a colony.  Let it cool first, though.
238927
It is not bacteria ... sheesh.  The things some people come up with.\n\nIt's just that -- lint.  Fibers from your clothing and your sheets.  Clean it out with a washcloth and soap and don't worry over it too much.
295308
Mabey this world IS perfect. Just not for us. Think about it, for us a world without disease and all that would be perfect. But to a bacteria that's not a perfect world. \n\nAnyway I don't subscribe to the creation fad. Just a thought that came to mind when I read the question. :)
451866
It depends whether you are talking about organisms that are single cells, or cells that exist in eukaryotic tissues.\n\nThe problem with finding the smallest cells is that they will undoubtedly turn out to be the smallest bacteria... these organisms are likely to exist only in places that are very difficult to reach, because extremely small size is in fact an adaptation to a (typically harsh) environment: reduction in size maximises surface area in proportion to volume.  When life gets very tough, having a maximal surface area is important, because in general, important life processes occur through cell walls and surface membranes.\n\nSome hyperthermophilic archaea (archae-bacteria that colonise hot volcanic and deep subterranean environments) are rod-shaped organisms 0.17 microns in diameter (genus Thermofilium), disk-shaped organisms 0.2-0.3 microns in diameter, 0.08-0.1 thick (genera Thermodiscus & Pyrodictium).\n\nCells in the human body are typically 5-20 microns thick.  I think Bacteria_Boy could be right about the nerve cell.\n\nIndividuals of the genus Acetabularia, a protist (single-celled) marine green alga, are composed of clearly differentiated parts (eg: foot, stalk, head), but grow up to about 5 cm in height.  These are the largest single-celled organisms that I know of.
937369
No, not directly.  Bacteria are of the order of single celled organisms called prokaryotes, we are multicellular organisms of the order eukaryote.  We share basic similarities such as DNA, RNA, certain cell makeup but our genetic orders split into two different directions at a very early stage.  The genetic relationship stopped there.\n\nWe do share a symbiotic relationship with bacteria in our bodies and the world around us if that's what you mean.  We rely on bacteria to help break down food and control digestion.  Without that relationship we'd die.
1109448
It is only A, Bacteria that applies to your question.
169290
Frankly, yes. At least as far as anti-bacterial soaps and such.\nI think most people would be shocked (and grossed out) if they were to be made aware that microscopic bugs live on their skin. Completely harmless.\nAnd the only thing all these products are accomplishing, is to make the organisms more resistant. Everything adapts over time. That's why there are so few effective antibiotics these days. And indeed, bacteria is quickly becoming resistant to those as well.\nAs far as bugs and wildlife....some bugs are beneficial and very much needed, while others cause disease. And should be controlled.\nWildlife? Most people have been raised in the city. But the cities are encrouching into the countryside, where, of course, the wildlife live.\nAnd since they have no experience with animals, outside of a zoo, it scares the h--- out of some people. They don't know what to do if they encounter an animal, and rather than learn, they want them gone.