This webquest is authored by Mrs. Ann Sowd.
Introduction
Bacteria are often maligned as the causes of human and animal disease . However, some bacteria produce antibiotics such as streptomycin and nocardicin; others live symbiotically in the guts of animals (including humans) or elsewhere in their bodies, or on the roots of certain plants, converting nitrogen into a usable form. Bacteria put the tang in yogurt and the sour in sourdough bread; bacteria help to break down dead organic matter; bacteria make up the base of the food web in many environments. Bacteria have been on earth longer than humans and will be here when we are gone. They are adaptive to all environments and very important to humans and all living things.
Task
A WebQuest offers you the opportunity to employ the Internet down a pre-planned trail to perform several pre-determined tasks to realize a pre-established goal. In this WebQuest, the goal is to gain insight into the overall role bacteria plays in relation to humankind. You will be directed to “click” down a pre-planned trail of discovery. It is important that you follow the trail. This will aid you in realizing your goal to discover the good and evil roles bacteria plays in the survival and demise of humankind.
Process
Use the links below to find the answers to the following questions. Evolution 1. How old are bacteria? Ecology 2. Where are bacteria found? Give 5 examples of where bacteria is found. Classification 3. What two kingdoms belong to the domain Prokaryote? 4. What characteristics place an organism in the domain Prokaryote? 5. What characteristics do Archae have the differ from Bacteria? Okay, now we will deal only with the Kingdom Bacteria. 6. Bacteria have three possible shapes. Name each shape and draw a picture of each. Bacteria cell structure 7. Label the picture of the bacteria cell. 8. Give the structure and function of each of the following: Gram Stain 9. What is the difference between a gram positive and gram negative bacteria? 10. How does the cell wall of a gram positive and gram negative bacteria differ? Reproduction 9. How does a bacteria reproduce? Draw a picture of this process. How do bacteria get their energy? 10. Bacteria can be aerobic, anaerobic, or facultative anaerobes? What is the difference between these three types of bacteria? 11. How do heterotrophic bacteria get their energy? What do these bacteria feed on? 12. How do autotrophic bacteria get their energy? 13. How do photoautotrophs differ from chemoautotrophs? The ecosystem, both on land and in the water, depends heavily upon the activity of bacteria. The cycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur is completed by their ceaseless labor. 14. Explain the role of each of the following and how bacteria are involved in each. Now that you know some intimate details about bacteria, let's explore "the good, the bad, and the ugly" issues of bacteria. 15. Go to Bugs in the News. Click on "What the Heck is E. coli? Read the article and answer the following questions. 16. Now we will follow the Internet trail to Microbe Zoo. Visit each of the main attractions at the zoo and complete the activities below. 17. Go to Microbe World, Every Day Roles, and click on the pictures to find 8 more good things that bacteria do! List your findings. When you have completed this webquest, hand your completed worksheet into your teacher. I hope you learned something new about our friends the bacteria:)
Resources - Links
Age of Bacteria
Bacterial Reproduction Bacterial Structure and Function Bugs in the News Characteristics of Archae Energy sources for bacteria Gram Stains and Bacterial Cell Walls How does Archae differ from Bacteria? Microbe World Microbe Zoo Shapes of Bacteria Two kingdoms in Domain Prokaryote What is a prokaryote? Where bacteria are found