Bacteria

Bacteria is a one-celled microorganism. Bacteria can live in temperatures above the boiling point and in cold that would freeze liquids. Bacteria uses photosynthesis to get their nutrition. Like plants, they give off oxygen.

There are thousands of species of bacteria. There are three basic shapes of bacteria: rod-shaped or stick-shaped, ball-shaped, and spiral-shaped.

The rod-shaped or stick-shaped are called bacilli (buh-sill-eye). The ball-shaped are called cocci (cox-eye). The spiral-shaped are called Borrelia.

This is the ball-shaped bacteria. This is what Streptococci looks like. It causes strep throat.

Some bacterial cells exist as individuals while others cluster together to form pairs, chains, squares, or other groupings. Bacteria live everywhere.