Classification of Microorganisms Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does taxonomy study?

Evolutionary relationships
Ecological niches
Principles of scientific classification (correct)
Characteristics of organisms

What are taxa?

Groups of organisms based on evolutionary relatedness

What is systematics (phylogeny)?

A discipline focused on classifying organisms and determining their evolutionary relationships

What is Eukarya?

Domain of all organisms whose cells have nuclei Signup and view all the answers

What is Bacteria?

Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls containing peptidoglycan Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Archaea?

Domain of unicellular prokaryotes that have cell walls that do not contain peptidoglycan Signup and view all the answers

What are the three domains of life?

Eukarya, Bacteria, Archaea Signup and view all the answers

What are the three major groups of Archaea?

Methanogens, extreme halophiles, hyperthermophiles Signup and view all the answers

What is a molecular clock?

Model that uses DNA comparisons to estimate the length of time that two species have been evolving independently Signup and view all the answers

What is a genus?

Taxonomic group containing one or more species Signup and view all the answers

What is a specific epithet?

The second part of a scientific name, always underlined or italicized but not capitalized Signup and view all the answers

What is binomial nomenclature?

A system for giving each organism a two-word scientific name Signup and view all the answers

What is an eukaryotic species?

A group of closely related organisms that breed among themselves Signup and view all the answers

What is a family in biological classification?

A taxonomic group containing one or more genera Signup and view all the answers

What is an order in taxonomy?

Taxonomic group containing one or more families Signup and view all the answers

What is a class in biological classification?

A taxonomic group comprised of organisms that share a common attribute Signup and view all the answers

What is phylum in taxonomy?

The major taxonomic group of animals and plants Signup and view all the answers

What is a kingdom in biological classification?

A taxonomic category, the second broadest after domain Signup and view all the answers

What is a domain?

Highest level of classification Signup and view all the answers

What is a prokaryotic species?

Population of unicellular cells with similar characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What is a clone?

A member of a population of genetically identical cells produced from a single cell Signup and view all the answers

What is a strain in biological classification?

Groups within a prokaryotic species that are not identical in all ways Signup and view all the answers

What is protista?

Kingdom composed of eukaryotes that are not classified as plants, animals, or fungi Signup and view all the answers

What are clades?

Evolutionary branches that consist of an ancestor and all its descendants Signup and view all the answers

What is Fungi?

A kingdom of complex organisms that obtain food by breaking down other substances Signup and view all the answers

What does Plantae refer to?

A kingdom made up of complex, multicellular organisms that are usually green Signup and view all the answers

What is Animalia?

A kingdom made up of complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls Signup and view all the answers

What is a viral species?

Population of viruses with similar characteristics that occupies a particular ecological niche Signup and view all the answers

What are rapid identification methods?

Identification tools for medically significant bacteria, such as Enterotube II and API Signup and view all the answers

What is numerical identification?

Numerical values associated with rapid identification methods for microorganism identification Signup and view all the answers

What is serology?

The study of blood serum and antibody-antigen interactions in vitro Signup and view all the answers

What is antiserum?

Blood serum that contains specific antibodies Signup and view all the answers

What is a slide agglutination test?

A rapid screening or semiquantitative test in which antibody and antigen are mixed on a glass slide Signup and view all the answers

What is serological testing?

Testing of body fluids to analyze a reaction between an antigen and antibody Signup and view all the answers

What are serotypes?

Antigenic variants of a pathogen that are identified by a single typing serum Signup and view all the answers

What are serovars?

Variations within a serotype that may have different characteristics Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Taxonomy and Classification

Taxonomy involves the study of scientific classification principles.
Taxa are groups of organisms classified based on evolutionary relationships.
Systematics, or phylogeny, focuses on classifying organisms and their evolutionary connections.

Domains of Life

Three primary domains: Eukarya, Bacteria, Archaea.
Eukarya includes organisms with nuclei: protists, plants, fungi, animals.
Bacteria consists of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls.
Archaea are unicellular prokaryotes without peptidoglycan in their walls.

Archaea Subgroups

Major groups of Archaea: methanogens, extreme halophiles, hyperthermophiles.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

The hierarchy consists of several categories: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species.
Genus groups one or more species; specific epithet is the second part of a scientific name, italicized and not capitalized.
Binomial nomenclature uses two words for scientific names: genus followed by species.

Prokaryotic Characteristics

Prokaryotic species are populations of similar unicellular organisms.
Clones are genetically identical cells from a single original cell.
Strains within prokaryotic species exhibit variations in characteristics.

Eukaryotic Kingdoms

Protista is a kingdom of eukaryotes not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
Fungi obtain nutrients by decomposing organic material.
Plantae are multicellular, green organisms using sunlight for photosynthesis, characterized by cellulose-based cell walls.
Animalia consists of complex, multicellular organisms that lack cell walls and respond quickly to their environment.

Viruses and Identification Techniques

Viral species are populations of viruses with similar traits in a specific ecological niche.
Rapid identification methods, like Enterotube II and API, allow simultaneous biochemical tests for significant bacteria.
Numerical identification assigns values to aid microorganism identification.

Serological Methods

Serology studies blood serum and antibody-antigen interactions.
Antiserum contains antibodies for specific pathogens.
Slide agglutination tests mix antibodies with antigens on slides to observe agglutination.
Serological testing analyzes antigen-antibody reactions in body fluids.
Serotypes are antigenic variants identified by a singular typing serum.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the taxonomy and systematics of microorganisms with these flashcards. Learn key terms and their definitions related to the classification of organisms, including domains and evolutionary relationships.