Evolution of bacteria: Overview
Written by Dr. T. M. Wassenaar Monday, 07 November 2011 20:42
Evolution becomes apparent when one studies bacteria. We can see bacteria evolve even as they grow in a laboratory.
The origin of life has been the subject of many studies. From a biological view point, bacteria are at the beginning of evolution, though we can't be certain that the very first living creatures on Earth indeed resembled bacteria as we now know them.
When bacteria multiply, they accumulate mutations over time. Mutations in bacteria can remain unnoticed, or have far-stretching effects, for instance when they result in resistance to antibiotics.
A fascinating group of bacteria are the Extremophiles: bacteria that live under extreme conditions. Many of these belong to the Archaea.
When we think about how higher organisms evolved, we can't ignore the fact that they did so in presence of bacteria. All organisms have learned how to cope with the presence of bacteria, and many bacterial species are used by higher organisms to their benefit. Such beneficial bacteria are called commensals.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 November 1999 01:00