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Answer the following in relation to bacteria - Leaving Cert Biology - Question b - 2006
Question b
Answer the following in relation to bacteria. (i) Distinguish between photosynthetic and chemosynthetic bacteria. Give an example of each type. (ii) Name two forms... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Answer the following in relation to bacteria - Leaving Cert Biology - Question b - 2006
Step 1
Distinguish between photosynthetic and chemosynthetic bacteria. Give an example of each type.
Answer
Photosynthetic bacteria are organisms that can make their own food using light energy through photosynthesis. An example of such bacteria is Cyanobacteria, which utilize sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.
Chemosynthetic bacteria, on the other hand, obtain their energy from chemical reactions, often involving inorganic substances. An example of chemosynthetic bacteria is those found in volcanic pools, which derive energy through the oxidation of sulfur compounds.
Step 2
Name two forms of heterotrophic nutrition found in bacteria.
Answer
Two forms of heterotrophic nutrition found in bacteria are:
- Parasitic nutrition, where bacteria derive nutrients from a living host.
- Saprophytic nutrition, where bacteria feed on dead organic matter, contributing to the decomposition process.
Step 3
What are antibiotics? For what purpose are they used?
Answer
Antibiotics are substances produced by bacteria or fungi that can inhibit or kill other microorganisms. They are primarily used to treat infections caused by bacteria by targeting specific bacterial processes, allowing for the elimination of the infection without harming the host.
Step 4
Explain what is meant by antibiotic resistance and suggest how it may develop.
Answer
Antibiotic resistance refers to the ability of bacteria or fungi to survive exposure to antibiotics that would normally inhibit or kill them. This can develop through various mechanisms, including natural selection, where surviving strains that are not affected by the antibiotic multiply. Additionally, antibiotic resistance may arise from mutations or gene transfer between microorganisms through plasmids, enabling them to share resistance traits.