Microorganisms   
Nearly all of the microorganisms studied by our intergalactic team of scientists found that the vast majority of organisms measured less than 4/100 inch (0.1 millimeter) across. Many microorganisms must be studied with microscopes that magnify objects at least 2,000 times. Most viruses, plasmids, prions, and viroids are so tiny that they can be seen only with electron microscopes that magnify many thousands of times. Viruses are called acellular microorganisms because they do not have true cell structure. All other microorganisms are cellular. To our surprise, these microorganisms have similar cell membranes, cytoplasm, and a nuclear body as those found on planet Earth.    
   

The smallest bacteria we discovered (code named Viroid-Bac) was as small as 4/10 of a micrometer ( a micrometer is 1/25,400 inch, or .001 millimeter). About 20,000 small viruses could be packed into a cell the size of one of their bacteria. Over a billion such cells could be packed into one of the largest microbial cells the cells of a certain algae. This bacteria was found in many of the tropical fish. The Viroid-Bac aides fish to survive the tropical weather..it prevents it from over heating   

Some microorganisms, such as electro-bacteria and cell worms, are being grown experimentally to see if they can be used for food. On planet  Earth, yeast is used as an ingredient in a variety of foods. It adds flavor and increases the nutritional value of certain foods. Our scientists are trying to genetically engineer these bacteria in order to help feed the people that live on starving planets. Our scientist are trying to accomplish this task by  developing new microbes by transferring genes from one organism to anther or by making favorable changes in specific genes. The above pictures shows bacteria that are being multiplied by our team of expert scientists.   

Reproduction    
Just like on planet Earth, most bacteria reproduce asexually. Asexual reproduction is the process of cells dividing. There is no exchange of DNA as there is in sexual reproduction. However, a few kinds of bacteria do mate, such as the case of the electro-bacteria, and they transfer DNA from one cell to another. Even more amazing, these cells cannibalize old or dead cells by taking their DNA code. Certain viruses that infect cells may also carry genetic information from one bacterium to another.    

In the case of the cell worms, which are rare bacterial spores, they can survive being boiled in water. These ancient cells have developed a defense against high heat due to the high tropical heat changes in equator waters.  These spores can develop into ordinary bacterial cells. Most bacteria reproduce at astounding rates. Another astonishing discovery is the fact that they can  multiplying and  double their number every 5 minutes. Therefore, if one of these bacteria were placed in reach food supply, there would be more than a billion bacteria. Of course, it would be impossible to supply enough food to keep the bacteria multiplying at the maximum rate for 24 hours.    

How Bacteria Live    
Most bacteria feed on dead organisms. Other bacteria , called parasites, such as cell prion,  obtain their food from living organisms. Some bacteria have simple food requirement. For example photosynthetic bacteria obtain energy needed for growth from sunlight. Most of the bacteria we have studied have been shown to use photosynthesis to  make  food from the carbon dioxide in the air as plants do.  Like mankind on planet Earth, many kinds of bacteria need oxygen to live. There was one rare bacteria that does not require oxygen. These bacteria are called aerobes. These anaerobes can live without oxygen, but their life span is very short.    

How Bacteria Are Killed    
Bacteria may be killed by heat, sunlight, or ultraviolet light . That is why many of the bacteria have evolved a special defense mechanism to fight heat. We tested some chemicals on these cells to see what would happen. To no surprise, many of them quickly died when they were exposed to alcohol and poisonous gases.  We even tried  antibiotics to  kill bacteria . The penicillin quickly  killed bacteria by interfering with development of the cell's wall.    
   

On land we discovered that bacteria are important in the process of  breaking down the dead organisms. The dead simple molecules on land animals are used by living plants and animals. Bacteria also change nitrogen gas into chemical forms that can be used by plants and animals. Other nitrogen fixing bacteria live in soil water. Without these bacteria , the soil and water would soon become poor in nitrogen, and all plants and animals would die.   
   

Just like on planet Earth, many of the bacteria caused disease on lab rats and monkeys, but were weak strains. Other bacteria cause such plant diseases similiar to black rot in vegetables and in roses.   

How They Move   
The sea and air currents on planet Millenia carry bacteria  long distances. In addition, many bacteria can swim . Under a an electron microscope, they move rapidly across the field view. Many bacteria can swim as fast as 90 microns per second. Most bacteria that swim do so by the use of rotating fibers called flagella . The flagella are attached in the cytoplasm and extend out through the cell membrane and cell wall. A few kinds of bacteria move by wriggling (as seen below).   
   
   

As of today, we are still in the process of finding new and amazing things about Planet Millenia's micro world. As soon as new information is discovered, we will beam down the information to local inhabited planets, and  of course planet earth.    RETURN TO TOP