Talk:Bacteria

Number of Species suggestion

This was originally written for the Species page, but was only added in a very abreviated form. I would like to propose inserting it into this article, following the "Classification and identification" section.

Number of Species

Total number of bacterial species (estimated): 5–10, or even 1,000 million (identified and unidentified) bacteria worldwide.

Of the 6,000 to 170,000 identified prokaryotic species there are:

• 16,000 prokaryotic species "seen by science", based on the number of different 98% unique 16S_ribosomal_RNA sequences in databases as of 2004. This analysis was based on a total of 56,215 16S rRNA gene sequences, the total number of 16S rRNA gene sequences in 2010 was 1,483,016, almost 30 times as many.
• 6,728 bacteria Type_strains that are fully described, currently stored in culture collections, and with a sequenced 16S_ribosomal_RNA gene (as of 2008).
• 165,676 bacteria species with some genetic sequence known (of which 10,045 were in Microbiological_culture)), as of 2011
• 4,794 Archaea species with some genetic sequence known (of which 395 were in Microbiological_culture)), as of 2011

Number of Species suggestion rational

Here is my reasoning for the above values:

This paper: The All-Species Living Tree project. Yarza et al. 20008 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18692976 provides a lower-bound estimate of 6728, since the Type Species they are describing are a subset of named species, almost all of which have been grown in pure culture and are in collections (see article).

While the estimates of 5–10 million bacteria are still current, and probably better supported (as pointed out elsewhere, the species concept is even more difficult for these organisms) the paper listed below cites a range from 10^7 to 10^9 (10 to 1,000 million) for the estimated number of species on the planet.

There is also published estimates of 35,498 total species richness, based on the 16,000 species that have been "seen by science". This latter value is based on the number of different 16S_ribosomal_RNA or RRNA genes (also see Molecular_phylogenetics) that are 98% or more divergent as described in this paper: Status of the Microbial Census. Schloss and Handelsman. 2004 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15590780 . However, the data they were basing their estimate on was much less than is in current databases, so I referenced release 10 to the RDP for a current number.

I've included values from the NCBI GenBank database's Taxonomy section since it is current, and the repository for all sequences. NCBI also has a taxonomic identifier for each sequence.

Extra (

Just working on a PowerPoint for my high school biology class and noticed an extra open parenthesis '(' in the growth and development section. Since the article was locked, I did not think I could do anything. Thanks and keep up the good work wikipedia!

Axc201 (talk) 04:33, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Fixed, thanks. Materialscientist (talk) 04:37, 27 January 2012 (UTC)

Edit request on 4 March 2012

Request for a spelling correction - under the Pathogens section, a sentence in the 3rd paragraph currently reads:

Infections can be prevented by antiseptic measures such as sterilizating the skin prior to piercing it with the needle of a syringe, and by proper care of indwelling catheters.

Please correct "sterilizating" to "sterilizing".

92.30.3.247 (talk) 12:17, 4 March 2012 (UTC)

Fixed, thanks. Materialscientist (talk) 12:34, 4 March 2012 (UTC)

Nonillion

When it said there are about 5×10³⁰ bacteria, I deleted the “five nonillion” and left just the exponent; to avoid long/short scale conflicts; and also because I find it illogical that bi- means two, but billion means (10³)³; tri- means three, but trillion means (10³)⁴; quad- means four, but quadrillion means (10³)⁵; etc., an endless chain shift. Okay?--Solomonfromfinland (talk) 11:31, 20 May 2013 (UTC)

Article's discussion of biofilms

In the section on morphology, the article strays into biofilms which is really a behavioral phenomenon rather than a morphological one. And it seems to suggest that quorum sensing and aggregation are more complex behaviors than creating biofilms, when in fact that's how the biofilms form. Also, in biofilms as well as in fruiting bodies, the bacteria similarly cooperate and perform different tasks. The section in the behavior section regarding biofilms looks pretty accurate (I've co-authored a scientific paper on the subject). I suggest we scrap the paragraph about biofilms within morphology, and maybe move some of the content about myxospores into the behavior section (but delete it from the morphology section).

Side note: I also noticed that the periplasmic space (between cell wall and cell membrane) is mentioned before any discussion of cell walls, which is bound to confuse people. And even within the discussion of cell walls, the periplasmic space is never defined.

Another side note: I take issue with the first sentence in the article. "Bacteria constitute a large domain (or kingdom) of prokaryotic microorganisms." They have a domain to themselves; kingdoms are subclassifications within domains. And the layperson who's trying to figure out what is this tiny thing they've heard about and they think it's maybe called bacteria? They'll run away when they read the first sentence of the article!! I don't think we need to introduce the word 'microorganism' yet, and certainly not 'prokaryotic'. Hmm. "Bacteria represent a large domain of single-celled organisms." Even there, organisms might be too much, but better than microorganisms. What do you think?

Jojojlj (talk) 10:06, 7 June 2013 (UTC)

Major issue with first sentence

Domain does not equal kingdom. Domain is a level of classification above kingdom. The eubacteria represent a monophyletic domain and are comprised of several kingdoms. Please fix this immediately.

Theropod — Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.160.139.227 (talk) 19:38, 26 June 2013 (UTC)

I fixed the first sentence and changed part of the first paragraph. The introductory portion of this article needs major revisions though. The information is helpful, but the first and second paragraphs duplicate their efforts. They could be consolidated. Secondly, I like including the history, and some of it may be useful to introduce the reader to the topic. I'll continue working on the introduction. If you see improvements make them; I've given my opinion on the topic. Theropod (talk) 23:53, 26 June 2013 (UTC)Theropod

Bacteria Living in Space

The first paragraph suggests that bacteria can live in space and cites a Nasa article. Unfortunately, if you read the Nasa article, you will see that they say bacteria can live in spaceships, not space. Just thought I would point this out.

Dishione (talk) 03:06, 30 July 2013 (UTC)

vs. Archaea?

1. The Wikipedia article on archaea says they are "prokaryotes, meaning that they have no cell nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles within their cells." The present article on bacteria says that bacteria are prokaryotes that "rarely harbour membrane-bound organelles." This is confusing. Are there bacteria that harbour membrane-bound organelles? If yes, the archaea article is wrong, and the phrase quoted here should be corrected. If no, the text in this article containing "rarely harbour membrane-bound organelles" should be modified to be clearer. The Wikipedia article on prokaryote says that "prokaryotes are a group of organisms whose cells lack a membrane-bound nucleus". This sounds like the archaea text is misleading. I'm confused.

2. Is there a succinct summary of the difference between bacteria and archaea? I don't see one either here or in the article on archaea. I'd like something that is easy for a lay person to remember. The Wikipedia article on eukaryote says they all have a membrane-bound nucleus. That's easy for me to remember. It would also help to know what is positive or "pro" about prokaryotes. That, too, would make it easier for people to learn. I remember hearing that prokaryotes were originally distinguished from eukaryotes on the basis of a certain test in which prokaryotes accepted a stain and eukaryotes did not, although that may no longer be consistent with current usage. I don't find the word "stain" in either the eukaryote or the prokaryote article, so I don't know. However, I think it would help people remember some explanation is provided of what's "pro" about "prokaryotes". Perhaps a section on "History" could be added to the eukaryote and prokaryote articles explaining this.

3. Is there some reason bacteria, archaea, and eukaryota are spelled in some places with an initial capital, like Bacteria? If yes, is this explained in the current article and I missed it? If no, could this please be changed to conform with Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Capital letters?

Thanks, DavidMCEddy (talk) 18:35, 3 December 2013 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 2 January 2014

Error in structure of sentence in first paragraph, should read:

Bacteria also live in plants and animals (see symbiosis), and have flourished in manned space vehicles. 86.169.36.101 (talk) 21:48, 2 January 2014 (UTC)