The Story of Germ LifeConn, H. W. (Herbert William)
Science
The Story of Germ Life
Conn, H. W. (Herbert William)
Bacteria; Bacteriology
Some species of bacteria have the power of active motion, and may
be seen darting rapidly to and fro in the liquid in which they are
growing. This motion is produced by flagella which protrude from
the body. These flagella (Fig. 15) arise from a membrane
surrounding the bacterium, but have an intimate connection with
the protoplasmic content. Their distribution is different in
different species of bacteria. Some species have a single
flagellum at one end (Fig. 15 a). Others have one at each end
(Fig. 15 b). Others, again, have, at least just before dividing, a
bunch at one or both ends (Fig. 15 c and d), while others, again,
have many flagella distributed all over the body in dense
profusion (Fig. 15 e). These flagella keep up a lashing to and fro
in the liquid, and the lashing serves to propel the bacteria
through the liquid.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE.
It is hardly possible to say much about the structure of the
bacteria beyond the description of their external forms. With all
the variations in detail mentioned, they are extraordinarily
simple, and about all that can be seen is their external shape. Of
course, they have some internal structure, but we know very little
in regard to it. Some microscopists have described certain
appearances which they think indicate internal structure. Fig. 16
shows some of these appearances. The matter is as yet very
obscure, however. The bacteria appear to have a membranous
covering which sometimes is of a cellulose nature. Within it is
protoplasm which shows various uncertain appearances. Some
microscopists have thought they could find a nucleus, and have
regarded bacteria as cells with inclosed nucleii (Figs. 10 a and
15 f). Others have regarded the whole bacterium as a nucleus
without any protoplasm, while others, again, have concluded that
the discerned internal structure is nothing except an appearance
presented by the physical arrangement of the protoplasm. While we
may believe that they have some internal structure, we must
recognise that as yet microscopists have not been able to make it
out. In short, the bacteria after two centuries of study appear to
us about as they did at first. They must still be described as
minute spheres, rods, or spirals, with no further discernible
structure, sometimes motile and sometimes stationary, sometimes
producing spores and sometimes not, and multiplying universally by
binary fission. With all the development of the modern microscope
we can hardly say more than this. Our advance in knowledge of
bacteria is connected almost wholly with their methods of growth
and the effects they produce in Nature.
ANIMALS OR PLANTS?
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