Cell Morphology
Perhaps the most elemental structural property of bacteria is cell morphology (shape). Typical examples include:
- coccus (spherical)
- bacillus (rod-like)
- spirillum (spiral)
- filamentous
Cell shape is generally characteristic of a given bacterial species, but can vary depending on growth conditions. Some bacteria have complex life cycles involving the production of stalks and appendages (e.g. Caulobacter) and some produce elaborate structures bearing reproductive spores (e.g. Myxococcus, Streptomyces). Bacteria generally form distinctive cell morphologies when examined by light microscopy and distinct colony morphologies when grown on Petri plates. These are often the first characteristics observed by a microbiologist to determine the identity of an unknown bacterial culture.
Read more about this topic: Bacterial Cell Structure
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