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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of microbes in maintaining balance in the environment?
How do ecologists utilize principles of microbiology in their studies?
What is the study of algae called?
Which childhood diseases have been nearly eradicated through disease control vaccines?
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Which organisms need light, water, and carbon dioxide for food production and growth?
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How do geneticists utilize microbes in their studies?
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What is the common name for parasitic flatworms and roundworms?
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What is the key aspect of writing a scientific name using binomial nomenclature?
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Which type of viruses consist of DNA or RNA core surrounded by a protein coat?
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Which scientist is credited with developing the binomial system of nomenclature for naming microorganisms?
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What structures does the head of tapeworm Acanthrocirrus retrirostris have for attaching to a host’s intestinal tissues?
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Which type of microscopy was used to capture the image of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica?
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What is the characteristic of Archaea?
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What is the function of Staphylothermus marinus in deep ocean hydrothermal vents?
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Which extremophile can survive in temperatures as low as -2.5°C?
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What is the primary energy source for Fungi?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of fungi?
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What is the scientific study of fungi known as?
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How do protozoa move?
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What is the main mode of nutrition for many protozoa?
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In what environments can protozoa be found?
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Which organelle do some protozoa use for photosynthesis?
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What is the main component of the cell walls of many algae?
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Where are algae usually abundant?
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What is the defining characteristic of Streptococcus pyogenes?
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Which organism is associated with making beer?
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What is the classification of living organisms according to Carl Woese's three domains?
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What is the defining characteristic of Penicillium chrysogenum?
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Which domain of life lacks peptidoglycan in its cell walls?
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What does Trypanosoma cruzi's name suggest about its classification?
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Study Notes
Importance of Microbiology
- Microorganisms play a crucial role in maintaining balance in the environment through recycling of nutrients and bioremediation.
- They form the base of the food chain in aquatic environments and are responsible for photosynthesis and digestion.
- Microorganisms have commercial applications in producing chemicals, antibiotics, and enzymes, and are used in the food industry.
Reasons for Studying Microbiology
- Studying microbiology provides insight into life processes in all living organisms.
- Ecologists draw on microbiology principles to understand how matter is decomposed and recycled.
- Biochemists use microbes to study metabolic pathways, and geneticists use them to study hereditary information transfer.
Microorganism Classification and Naming
- Microorganisms are named using the binomial system of nomenclature, with a genus and species name (e.g., Escherichia coli).
- Carolus Linnaeus introduced the binomial system in 1735.
Characteristics of Microorganisms
- Algae are photosynthetic eukaryotes with a wide variety of shapes and reproductive forms.
- Viruses are acellular, consisting of a DNA or RNA core surrounded by a protein coat, and are replicated only in living host cells.
- Multicellular animal parasites, such as helminths, are eukaryotic and have microscopic stages in their life cycles.
- Archaea are prokaryotic, lack peptidoglycan, and thrive in extreme environments.
- Fungi are eukaryotes with chitin cell walls, using organic chemicals for energy, and are widely distributed in water and soil.
- Protozoa are unicellular, eukaryotic, and most are motile, with various shapes and reproductive forms.
Examples of Microorganisms
- Escherichia coli (bacterium)
- Spirillum (bacterium with spiral or curved shape)
- Staphylothermus marinus (extremophile archaeon)
- Sulfolobus (extremophile archaeon)
- Methanococcoides burtonii (extremophile archaeon)
- Fungi (e.g., molds, mushrooms, and yeasts)
- Protozoa (e.g., Amoeba, Euglena)
- Algae (e.g., seaweeds, kelp)
Classification of Living Organisms
- Carl Woese identified three domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
- The three domains of life are based on the cell walls and membrane composition of the organisms.
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Description
Explore the significance of studying microbiology, including its role in pathogenicity, environmental balance, bioremediation, food production, and more. Understand how microbiology provides insight into life processes across various lifeforms.
