Build a Bacteria!
Discover the diversity of bacteria and get creative making your own model bacteria!
Bacteria come in lots of shapes and sizes. When we identify bacteria in the laboratory we often name them by their shape or where they are found.
Round ones are called cocci, rod shaped ones are called bacilli, gently curved ones vibrio, and spiral ones are called spirilla or spirochetes. Some bacteria create a chain of multiple bacterial cells. Some bacteria can move around: tail-like structures called flagella allow some bacteria to move around their environment.
Bacteria have different surface proteins which can effect whether they can cause illness in humans.
Use this activity to explore the diversity of bacteria!