This photograph shows what Eubacteria look like under a microscope. Click on image for full size (120K GIF) Image courtesy of JPL/NASA

Eubacteria, also know as “true bacteria”, are microscopic organisms that have prokaryotic cells. Because of their prokaryotic cells, they have a rigid cell wall but no mitochondria or other large organelles, and they have a single chromosome that is not within a nucleus. Most reproduce asexually.

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are Eubacteria that have been living on our planet for over 3 billion years. This bacterium grows in mats and mounds in the shallow parts of the ocean. Today it is only common in certain regions, but a few billion years ago, there was so much of it that, through photosynthesis, it was able to add enough oxygen to Earth’s primitive atmosphere for animals that require oxygen could survive.

Some Eubacteria can cause problems for human health. For instance, Streptococci bacteria cause strep throat. If Staphylococci bacteria gets into a cut in your skin is can cause an infection that is called a staph infection. Bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella are sometimes found in undercooked meat and eggs and can make people sick. Other bacteria are beneficial to human health, such as those found in yogurt.

People have found that some types of Eubacteria can be very useful. Many forms are able to breakdown waste and are used at wastewater treatment plants and in septic systems. Eubacteria are also used to ferment grapes to make wine and to ferment milk to make certain cheeses.

This photograph shows what Eubacteria look like under a microscope. Click on image for full size (120K GIF) Image courtesy of JPL/NASA

Eubacteria, also know as “true bacteria”, are microscopic prokaryotic cells.

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are Eubacteria that have been living on our planet for over 3 billion years. Blue-green algae grow in the shallow parts of the ocean. Today it is only common in certain regions, but a few billion years ago, there was tons of it! Through photosynthesis, which produces oxygen, billions of tiny bacteria were able to add oxygen to Earth’s atmosphere. This allowed animals that breath oxygen to survive.

Some Eubacteria can cause health problems like strep throat and food poisoning. Bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella are sometimes found in undercooked meat and eggs and can make people sick. Other bacteria are good to eat, such as those in yogurt.

People have found that some types of Eubacteria can be very useful. Some are used at wastewater treatment plants to help clean the water. Others are also used to make grapes into wine and milk into cheese.

This photograph shows what Eubacteria look like under a microscope. Click on image for full size (120K GIF) Image courtesy of JPL/NASA

Each Eubacteria is a tiny prokaryotic cell.

Some can make food from sunlight through photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, are able to do this. They have been living in the oceans of our planet for over 3 billion years!

Some Eubacteria can cause health problems like strep throat and food poisoning. Bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella are sometimes found in undercooked meat and eggs and can make people sick.

People have found that some types of Eubacteria can be very useful. Some are used at wastewater treatment plants to help clean the water. Some are good to eat, such as those in yogurt. Others are also used to make grapes into wine and milk into cheese.