Bakterites

Bakterites are a fictional or speculative group of bacteria used in educational and science-fiction contexts to explore microbial diversity and taxonomy. The term appears in various works as a hypothetical lineage that diverged early from other bacteria, sometimes described as possessing a distinctive cell envelope or metabolic style.

Described traits vary by author but common features include small, single-celled prokaryotes with simple cell envelopes that may lack typical peptidoglycan or include unusual lipopolysaccharide structures. They are typically depicted as chemoorganoheterotrophs or chemolithoautotrophs, capable of surviving in low-oxygen or anoxic environments. Reproduction is by binary fission, with variable genome size and in some depictions polyploidy or extreme genome reduction.

Ecology and habitat in these portrayals span extreme environments such as hot springs, acidic environments, deep-sea vents, or ancient microenvironments. Some depictions suggest an ancestral or basal position within microbial communities, while others place them in specialized ecological niches. They may form biofilms or engage in symbiotic relationships with archaea or eukaryotes in speculative ecosystems.

Taxonomy and real-world status: Bakterites do not correspond to a recognized taxon in real-world microbiology. They are used as a thought experiment to illustrate concepts in microbial phylogeny, the evolution of cellular features, and the challenges of classifying organisms based on morphology or metabolism. In fiction and speculative biology, they provide a narrative device for exploring microbial life, biosignatures, and planetary habitability.