36 Questions
Who is often credited as the first person to observe microorganisms using a microscope?
van Leeuwenhoek
Which scientist's work paved the way for later exploration of the microbial world?
van Leeuwenhoek
Who was a pioneer of antiseptic procedures and worked as an obstetrician in Vienna?
Semmelweis
Who claimed that diseases, like plants and animals, have 'invisible seeds'?
Akshamsaddin
Which form of transport moves molecules against a concentration gradient and requires energy, commonly used by bacteria?
Active transport
What is the main component of the cell wall in gram-negative bacteria?
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
Which bacterial shape is spiral-shaped?
Spirochete
What type of transport is facilitated diffusion?
Passive transport
Which process involves the active movement of proteins out of the cell, such as extracellular enzymes and external structures?
$Protein$ $secretion$
What are the components of LPS (lipopolysaccharide)?
$Lipid A, O antigen, and core polysaccharide$
Who contributed to virology by coining the term 'virus' and identifying filterable infectious agents?
Beijerink and Ivanovsky
What type of molecules can pass through the permeability of the cell membrane?
O2, CO2, N2, small hydrophobic molecules, and water only
What is the main component of the cell wall in gram-positive bacteria?
Peptidoglycan
What form of transport is rarely used by prokaryotes?
Facilitated diffusion
What is the maximum resolution of light microscopes?
0.2 nanometers
Which microscopy technique is used to observe fine details of cell structure?
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
What is the primary purpose of gram staining?
To differentiate between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria based on cell wall composition
Which staining method is used to detect organisms with high concentrations of mycolic acid in their cell walls?
Acid-fast staining
What distinguishes differential staining from simple staining?
Differential staining distinguishes different types of bacteria, while simple staining involves the use of one dye.
What is the primary difference between transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)?
TEM is used to observe fine details of cell structure, while SEM is used to observe surface details and yields a 3D effect.
What are the key differences between Bacteria and Archaea?
Cell wall composition, lipids in membrane, and genetic differences
What is the role of Fungi in the ecosystem?
Decomposing organic material through absorption
What are the characteristics of Protozoa?
Unicellular eukaryotic organisms involved in various ecological roles, including some that are parasitic
What is the significance of studying non-microbes like helminths and viruses in microbiology?
Due to their significant impacts on human health
What is the evidence for the two-domain system (Bacteria and Archaea)?
Genetic information, particularly ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences
Why are definitions of magnification, refraction, resolution, and contrast crucial for understanding microscopy?
They are fundamental concepts for understanding how microscopes work and how images are formed
What techniques can be used to improve contrast in microscopy?
Changing microscope optics and staining the sample
What are the components of a bright-field microscope?
Ocular, objective, and condenser lenses
What determines the total magnification in a light microscope?
The combination of objective and ocular lenses
Who demonstrated that a microbe can cause disease by isolating a fungus that killed silkworms?
Koch
Which scientist developed modern methods for working with microbes known as Koch's Postulates?
Koch
Who disproved spontaneous generation and developed techniques for vaccine production and pasteurization?
Pasteur
Who pioneered antiseptic surgery, sterilizing surgical equipment and rooms, and developed carbolic acid as an antiseptic?
Lister
Which discovery led to the policy of washing hands with bleach and water after autopsies and before delivering babies?
Semmelweis' comparison of patient deaths in clinics run by midwives and doctors
Which major contributor to the Germ theory of disease identified the causes of anthrax, cholera, and tuberculosis?
Koch
What did Pasteur develop to kill microbes in food and milk?
Pasteurization
Study Notes
Contributions to the Germ Theory of Disease
- Semmelweis found that a clinic run by midwives had fewer patient deaths than a clinic with doctors, and suggested that something was being transferred from the dead body to the doctors.
- Mandatory hand washing, introduced by Semmelweis, reduced deaths, with a policy of washing hands with bleach and water after autopsies and before delivering babies.
- Bassi demonstrated that a microbe can cause disease by isolating a fungus that killed silkworms, proving the source of disease came from outside the worm.
- Koch, a German physician, identified the causes of anthrax, cholera, and tuberculosis, and developed modern methods for working with microbes, known as Koch's Postulates.
- Pasteur disproved spontaneous generation and developed techniques for vaccine production and pasteurization to kill microbes in food and milk.
- Lister pioneered antiseptic surgery, sterilizing surgical equipment and rooms, and developed carbolic acid as an antiseptic to prevent infection.
- The discoveries of major contributors to the Germ theory of disease built upon one another in a chronological progression.
- Infectious diseases have had a profound impact on the human population, causing massive mortality, altering civilizations, and influencing demographic patterns.
- Control of infectious diseases, through measures like vaccines and antibiotics, has led to increased life expectancy and improved well-being.
- The major categories of microbes include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, helminths, and viruses.
- Microbes can be useful in various ways, such as in food production, biotechnology, medicine, and environmental cleanup.
- Understanding the germ theory of disease has laid the foundation for combating infectious diseases and improving public health.
Test your knowledge about the various useful roles of microbes in biotechnology, food production, environmental processes, and medicine.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
