Biomaterial Database

Were Gram-positive rods the first bacteria? 2003

Arthur L Koch

Biology Department, Indiana University, Jordan Hall 142, 1001 East Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-6801, USA. Koch@Indiana.edu

At some point in the evolution of life, the domain Bacteria arose from prokaryotic progenitors. The cell that gave rise to the first bacterium has been given the name (among several other names) "last universal ancestor (LUA)". This cell had an extensive, well-developed suite of biochemical strategies that increased its ability to grow. The first bacterium is thought to have acquired a covering, called a sacculus or exoskeleton, that made it stress-resistant. This protected it from rupturing as a result of turgor pressure stress arising from the success of its metabolic abilities. So what were the properties of this cell's wall? Was it Gram-positive or Gram-negative? And was it a coccus or a rod?

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009024	Morphogenesis	The development of anatomical structures to create the form of a single- or multi-cell organism. Morphogenesis provides form changes of a part, parts, or the whole organism.
D011387	Prokaryotic Cells	Cells lacking a nuclear membrane so that the nuclear material is either scattered in the cytoplasm or collected in a nucleoid region.	Cell, Prokaryotic,Cells, Prokaryotic,Prokaryotic Cell
D002473	Cell Wall	The outermost layer of a cell in most PLANTS; BACTERIA; FUNGI; and ALGAE. The cell wall is usually a rigid structure that lies external to the CELL MEMBRANE, and provides a protective barrier against physical or chemical agents.	Cell Walls,Wall, Cell,Walls, Cell
D005075	Biological Evolution	The process of cumulative change over successive generations through which organisms acquire their distinguishing morphological and physiological characteristics.	Evolution, Biological
D006094	Gram-Positive Bacteria	Bacteria which retain the crystal violet stain when treated by Gram's method.	Gram Positive Bacteria
D018407	Bacterial Physiological Phenomena	Physiological processes and properties of BACTERIA.	Bacterial Physiology,Bacterial Processes,Bacterial Physiological Concepts,Bacterial Physiological Phenomenon,Bacterial Process,Physiology, Bacterial,Bacterial Physiological Concept,Concept, Bacterial Physiological,Concepts, Bacterial Physiological,Phenomena, Bacterial Physiological,Phenomenon, Bacterial Physiological,Process, Bacterial,Processes, Bacterial