Structure, Classification, and Reproduction of Bacteria The World of Bacteria Bacteria, the smallest and most abundant life forms on Earth, have been around for billions of years. In this article, we'll delve into the structure, classification, and reproduction of these fascinating microorganisms. Structure of Bacteria Bacteria have a relatively simple structure compared to eukaryotic cells: Cell Wall: Most bacteria have a rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan, providing shape and protection. Cell Membrane: Beneath the cell wall, there's a semipermeable cell membrane that regulates the flow of substances in and out of the cell. Cytoplasm: This is where the bacterial cell's metabolic activities occur. Genetic Material: Bacterial DNA is located in a single circular chromosome in the nucleoid region. Ribosomes: Bacteria have ribosomes for protein synthesis, but th...