Diversity Bacteria and Archaea Further information: Microbiology Bacteria – Gemmatimonas aurantiaca (-=1 Micrometer) Bacteria are a type of cell that constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms . Typically a few micrometers in length, bacteria have a number of shapes , ranging from spheres to rods and spirals . Bacteria were among the first life forms to appear on Earth , and are present in most of its habitats . Bacteria inhabit soil, water, acidic hot springs , radioactive waste , [157] and the deep biosphere of the earth's crust . Bacteria also live in symbiotic and parasitic relationships with plants and animals. Most bacteria have not been characterised, and only about 27 percent of the bacterial phyla have species that can be grown in the laboratory. [158...