"Xxxxx scientists dream of a world free of bacteria." So says a famous brand of toothbrushes (do not get because I do not agree, not because they want to advertise).
Perfect, wonderful observation, a bacteria-free world would be a world without diseases such as meningitis, tuberculosis, tetanus, tooth ... but without yogurt, without many natural vitamins, diabetics would have it more difficult to get insulin. Forget many antibiotics, drugs and other chemicals. Campari mushrooms at home wrecking crops. There would be no nitrogen fixation, or degradation of organic matter, not even milk (cow)! and methanogenic bacteria are the stomachs of cows who degrade cellulose. Might not have oxygen to breathe and many nutrients unavailable to the ecosystem: that is, any catastrophe.
What are bacteria? For simplifying it a bit much are some "bags" of DNA and enzymes, extremely adaptable and versatile. Have been able to adapt to almost any ecosystem, no matter how bleak it may seem, to a wide range of pH, temperature, concentrations of compounds.
can live without oxygen, without breathing, breathing sulfates, even breathing CO2, are capable of photosynthesis in the same way that plants, and different ones. Without doubt, are the true masters of the planet. Be extinguished humanity, all species may become extinct animals and plants, all fungi, the seas will evaporate ... but will always be bacteria (with the only requirement that water and nutrients that can be used).
They are a big unknown. Their classification is based primarily on their biochemistry, so traditionally the main method of knowing has been growing. It prepares a "soup" with the nutrients that the bacteria need (indeed, many of the most used prefabricated soup smell ... I kept wanting to try it ...) and perform specific tests. There are many of them and are quite striking: culture media that change color, fluorescence ... Do not usually watch microscope as it may seem. But many bacteria are not cultivable, or do not know their culture medium appropriate or can not be reconstructed. Worse, the media are generally of a single crop, and of course man. We can not know how they work in a natural environment.
The genetic revolution and structural biology has enabled the development of new techniques. For example, the capture of genes. Never mind that bacteria can not grow when you can grow your genes.
But I digress I think what he meant: the bacteria are everywhere and are essential to our survival. So I do not understand why they have such a bad reputation. Think we can dare to destroy them all (even if only the pathogenic) is delirious as Hogward Hughes, let's face it, long ago lost the battle.
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