Biology: Classification of Organisms
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Questions and Answers

What is the science of characterizing organisms in order to arrange them into hierarchical groups?

  • Identification
  • Nomenclature
  • Taxonomy (correct)
  • Horizontal Gene Transfer

    • What is the process of characterizing an isolate in order to determine the group to which it belongs?

  • Identification (correct)
  • Classification
  • Horizontal Gene Transfer
  • Nomenclature

    • What is the term for the transfer of DNA from one organism to another through conjugation, DNA-mediated transformation, or transduction?

  • Species
  • Taxonomy
  • Horizontal Gene Transfer (correct)
  • Genus

    • What is the basic unit of taxonomy?

    <p>Species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a group of closely related strains?

    <p>Strain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a collection of related species?

    <p>Genus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a collection of similar kingdoms?

    <p>Domain</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What tracks bacterial strains causing foodborne diseases?

    <p>PulseNet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology?

    <p>To classify bacterial and archaeal species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to identify the genus and species of an isolate in clinical laboratories?

    <p>To diagnose and treat diseases effectively</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the basis for classification in the newest edition of Bergey's Manual?

    <p>Phylogeny</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might happen if the properties of a newly isolated prokaryotic organism do not match any description in Bergey's Manual?

    <p>The organism is presumed to be a new species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might it be easier to determine the cause of pneumonia than the cause of a wound infection?

    <p>The cause of pneumonia is more easily identified through laboratory tests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between the newest and previous editions of Bergey's Manual?

    <p>The newest edition classifies organisms based on phylogeny, while the previous edition classified based on phenotypic characteristics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might some biologists be reluctant to accept the three-domain system?

    <p>Because it replaces the traditional five-kingdom system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method of identification in clinical laboratories?

    <p>Based on phenotype</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of microorganisms are members of the genus Mycobacterium?

    <p>Acid-fast</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using an acid-fast stain in a patient with symptoms of tuberculosis?

    <p>To help identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of colonies of the bacterium Serratia marcescens when incubated at 228C?

    <p>They are often red due to the production of a pigment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

    <p>They have a distinct fruity odor and produce a soluble greenish pigment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using metabolic capabilities in identifying microorganisms?

    <p>To identify the type of sugars it ferments</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of medium is used to detect the presence of E. coli?

    <p>MacConkey agar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using colony morphology in identifying microorganisms?

    <p>To give initial clues to the identity of the organism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the analogy used to describe the process of identifying microorganisms based on their metabolic capabilities?

    <p>Identifying people based on their hair color, food preferences, and hobbies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of placing paper discs containing different antibiotics on the agar?

    <p>To determine the susceptibility of microorganisms to antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it difficult to determine the evolutionary relationships of microorganisms?

    <p>Because of the diversity of microorganisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of using phenotypic traits to classify prokaryotes?

    <p>Phenotypic differences can be due to environmental factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the advantage of using molecular techniques to identify microorganisms?

    <p>It can detect genomic differences between strains</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the antibiogram?

    <p>To determine the susceptibility of microorganisms to antibiotics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the limitation of using fossilized stromatolites to study microorganisms?

    <p>They give few clues to help identify or understand ancient microbes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of strains of a given species?

    <p>They may differ in phenotypic characteristics such as biochemical capabilities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of DNA sequencing techniques in prokaryotic classification?

    <p>It is used to classify microorganisms based on their evolutionary relationships</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of inoculating a stool sample onto a special agar medium?

    <p>To identify E.coli O157:H7 in a stool specimen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the sorbitol-MacConkey agar medium?

    <p>It is a modified version of MacConkey agar that contains the carbohydrate sorbitol</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the process of comparing the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of E.coli O157:H7 isolates used for?

    <p>To determine if two isolates originated from the same source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome if two isolates have identical RFLP patterns?

    <p>They are presumed to have originated from the same source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the CDC's investigation in the E.coli O157:H7 outbreak?

    <p>To determine the source of the outbreak</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the outcome of the CDC's investigation in the E.coli O157:H7 outbreak?

    <p>The determination that the outbreak originated from a single source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the restriction enzymes in the process of RFLP?

    <p>They are used to digest the DNA of E.coli O157:H7 isolates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the gel electrophoresis in the process of RFLP?

    <p>To separate and visualize the DNA fragments of E.coli O157:H7 isolates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Classification of Organisms

    • There are three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
    • Kingdoms are grouped into domains, and domains are used to classify organisms
    • Genus is a collection of related species, and species is a group of closely related strains
    • Taxonomy is the science of characterizing organisms to arrange them into hierarchical groups (taxa)

    Horizontal Gene Transfer

    • Transfer of DNA from one organism to another through conjugation, DNA-mediated transformation, or transduction
    • Horizontal gene transfer can be used to classify or identify certain organisms

    Identification of Organisms

    • Identification is the process of characterizing an isolate to determine the group (taxon) it belongs to
    • PulseNet tracks bacterial strains causing foodborne diseases
    • In clinical laboratories, identifying the genus and species of an isolate is more important than understanding its evolutionary relationship to other organisms

    Bergey's Manual

    • Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology is a reference text that describes all known bacterial and archaeal species
    • If a newly isolated prokaryotic organism does not agree with any description in Bergey's Manual, it is presumed to be a new organism

    Identification Methods

    • Based on phenotype: acid-fast staining, differential media, and colony morphology
    • Metabolic capabilities: fermentation of sugars, end products, and enzymatic activities

    Culture Characteristics

    • Colony morphology: initial clues to the identity of an organism
    • Examples: Serratia marcescens (red colonies), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (greenish pigment, fruity odor)

    DNA-Based Identification

    • Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis is used to compare DNA patterns of isolates
    • Identical patterns indicate that isolates originated from the same source

    Antibiotic Susceptibility

    • Antibiogram: a culture is uniformly inoculated onto nutrient agar, and paper discs containing antibiotics are placed on the agar
    • Clear areas around discs indicate inhibition or killing of the organism by the antibiotic

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    Learn about the different domains, kingdoms, and taxonomic ranks in biology, including Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

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