Bacterial Cell

[Sinead Ryan]

Could some one plese help me.
1. What are plasmids??
2 Are inclusions in bacterial cells like vauoles in eukaryotic cells?
3 What is the function of the mesosome in bacterial cells??
and 4 What is the 'slimy capsule' made of?

and finally are all bacteria's single celled or are there also multicelled bateria???

thanks,
Very confused, Sinead xxx

[James]

Plasmids are small circular sections of DNA, these generally code for things such as enzyme production and resistance. They are very useful in genetic engineering.

Inclusions store substances needed to the cell, such as sulphur, for sulphur reliant bacteria.

I think that the function of mesosomes in bacteria is not fully known, perhaps for an increase in surface area for aerobic respiration.

The slimy capsule usually consists of polysaccharide; however sometimes polypeptide is used.

Bacteria by definition are unicelled, but do form colonies of bacteria

[MrMistery]

maybe you should know that inclusions store chlorophyl at some bacteria that are capable of photosyntethis

[Sinead Ryan]

thats very helpful....
THANKS!!!!!

[loupass]

mesosomes were also once thought to be sites of attachment for DNA during replication.

[victor]

seeing about inclusion body is just like Vacuola for me...

[lara]

mesosomes r involved in replication&respiration.

[Mjhavok]

Hi there,

I got this from "MICROBIOLOGY 5/e" by Prescott, Harley and Klein

"Mesosomes are structures formed by invaginations of the plasma membrane that may play a role in cell wall formation during cell division and in chromosome replication and distribution; however, mesosomes may be artifacts generated during chemical fixation for electron microscopy"

Hope it helps