Due to their size, large number, rapid growth rates and genetic flexibility; prokaryotes are excellent examples of evolution and adaptation in action. The goal of these presentations is for you to research and analyze your adopted prokaryote and identify the features of the organism that enabled it to adapt to a specific environment. Obviously, a key adaption is the mechanism by which a prokaryote derives energy from its environment. Although there are three major mechanisms of energy conservation in prokaryotes (phototrophy, chemolithotrphy and chemoorganotrphy), each prokaryote has evolved its own specialized metabolic pathways to optimize energy conservation and utilization in its environment. Therefore, the metabolic mechanisms utilized by your prokaryote should be a major part of your presentation. In addition, you should also identify specialized structures, genes and adaptations your prokaryote has made to enhance its efficiency in a given environment. For example, within the phototrophs, many have evolved specialized pigments that allow them to thrive in various light gradients. In addition, many chemolithotrophs possess specialized membrane compartments that protect the rest of the cell from toxic intermediates and finally chemoorganotrophs, have evolved cell surface enzymes that degrade complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars that can readily be metabolize by fermentation pathways.

Your presentation should contain the following elements:

Title Slide with

Scientific name (Genus/Species) and phylum of your microorganism, and its position in a phylogenetic tree for prokaryotes.
Picture of microorganism
Slide illustrating common habitat/environment in which your organism is found.

Brief explanation of environment(s) frequently inhabited by your microorganism and how it relates to its mechanism of metabolism (e.g. Bacterium X thrives in ocean sediments because there is an abundant supply of sulfur).
A picture of the environment really helps emphasize relationship between environment and your organism
Slides Conveying Metabolism/Energy Conserving reactions of organism.

If your organism is a phototroph:

Explain how it uses light to conserve energy.
What pigments, reaction centers, photosystems…etc are utilized?
Does your organism have any unique structures enhance the efficiency of deriving energy from light? Describe them and how they work.

If your organism is a chemolithotroph:

Show the redox reactions involved in energy conservation.
Does your organism have unique structure/enzymes that enable it to efficiently utilize inorganic compounds?

If your compound is a chemoorganotroph:

Show structure of organic compound that is metabolized by your organism
Show diagrams and briefly explain pathways by which compound is metabolized (e.g. fermentation, aerobic or anaerobic respiration).
Does your organism have unique structures/enzymes/receptors that enhance its efficiency in utilizing organic compounds?
Slides depicting additional features of your prokaryote that enable it to make use of the available resources in the environment

Due to their size, large number, rapid growth rates and genetic fle...