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Questions and Answers
Which type of microbe is NOT included in the five main types of microbes?
What role do microbes play in the production of food?
What did Francesco Redi's experiment with jars of decaying meat aim to demonstrate?
What was the result when John Needham placed boiled nutrient broth into covered flasks?
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Which of the following statements about the human microbiome is true?
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Normal microbiota can be characterized by which of the following?
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What conclusion did Rudolf Virchow draw regarding the origin of living cells?
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In Louis Pasteur's experiment, what was the observed result when nutrient broth was heated and then sealed?
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What is one way that microbes contribute to maintaining good health?
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What can facilitate the colonization of microbes in the human body?
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What did experiments during the First Golden Age of Microbiology primarily focus on?
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Which of the following discoveries was NOT associated with the First Golden Age of Microbiology?
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Which of the following is NOT a function of microbes?
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How did Spallanzani's experiment differ from Needham's in terms of flask sealing?
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Which of the following statements about transient microbiota is accurate?
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What was the significant discovery by Paul Ehrlich in 1910?
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What was the significance of Pasteur’s findings regarding microorganisms in the air?
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Which of the following is NOT a study of a specific branch of microbiology?
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What did Alexander Fleming discover in 1928?
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What was a major drawback of some antimicrobial chemicals?
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Who contributed significantly to the field of immunology in 1933?
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What technology has enhanced the study of viruses since the 1930s?
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Which group of scientists demonstrated that DNA is the hereditary material?
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What is the primary focus of molecular biology as a field of study?
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What does genomics primarily enable in the study of microorganisms?
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Which process involves using microbes to treat sewage?
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What is recombinant DNA primarily used for?
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What role do bacteria play in microbial ecology?
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What is a benefit of using Bacillus thuringiensis for pest control?
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Which of the following is a by-product of sewage treatment?
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In bioremediation, microorganisms are utilized to:
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What is true about the application of genomics in microbiomes?
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What is the primary purpose of recombinant DNA technology in biotechnology?
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Which of the following statements about normal microbiota is true?
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What are biofilms?
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Which factor does NOT contribute to the emergence of infectious diseases?
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How do normal microbiota help in disease resistance?
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Which of the following is a negative impact of biofilms?
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What characteristic defines emerging infectious diseases?
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Which benefit is NOT associated with normal microbiota?
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Study Notes
Microbes in Our Lives
- Microorganisms are organisms too small to be seen without a microscope
- Five main types of microbes are bacteria, fungi, protozoa, microscopic algae, and viruses/prions
Roles of Microbes
- Some microbes are pathogenic (disease-causing)
- Some microbes cause food spoilage
- Microbes decompose organic waste
- Microbes incorporate nitrogen gas from the air into organic compounds
- Microbes generate oxygen through photosynthesis
- Microbes produce chemicals like ethanol, acetone, and vitamins
- Microbes help make fermented foods like vinegar, cheese, yogurt, alcohol, and bread
- Microbes are used in manufacturing (e.g., cellulose) and disease treatment (e.g., insulin)
The Microbiome
- The human body has 30 trillion body cells and houses another 40 trillion bacterial cells
- The microbiome (microbiota) is a group of microbes stably living on/in the human body
- The microbiome plays a role in maintaining good health, preventing pathogenic microbial growth, and potentially training the immune system
The Debate over Spontaneous Generation
- Francesco Redi's experiment showed that maggots only appeared in open jars of decaying meat, suggesting that they did not arise spontaneously.
- John Needham's experiment with boiled nutrient broth showed microbial growth even after covering, suggesting spontaneous generation.
- Lazzaro Spallanzani's experiment with boiled nutrient broth in sealed flasks showed no microbial growth, supporting the idea that microbes come from air or fluids, not spontaneous generation.
- Louis Pasteur’s experiment with swan-neck flasks showed that microbes are present in air but do not spontaneously generate.
The First Golden Age of Microbiology
- This age, lasting from 1857-1914, saw discoveries about the relationship between microbes and disease, the role of immunity, the chemical activities of microorganisms, and improved microscopy.
- This age significantly improved methods to culture (grow) microorganisms and included the development of the first vaccines, aseptic techniques, and chemotherapeutic drugs.
The Third Golden Age of Microbiology
- The Third Golden Age of Microbiology began in the 1980s.
- Genomics, the study of an organism’s genes, provided tools for discovering, detecting, and classifying microorganisms.
- Recombinant DNA technology involves inserting DNA from one organism into another, enabling bacteria and fungi to produce various proteins, vaccines, and enzymes.
Recycling Vital Elements
- Microbial ecology studies the relationship between microorganisms and their environment.
- Bacteria convert essential elements like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus into forms usable by plants and animals
- Sewage treatment uses microbes to recycle wastewater.
- Bioremediation uses microbes to clean up pollutants like oil and mercury.
Biotechnology and Recombinant DNA Technology
- Biotechnology uses microbes for practical applications, like food and chemical production.
- Recombinant DNA technology enables bacteria and fungi to produce proteins, vaccines, and enzymes.
Normal Microbiota
- The normal microbiota are microbes present on and in the human body.
- They help prevent the growth of pathogens and produce growth factors like vitamins B and K.
- Resistance is the body’s ability to ward off disease, which involves factors like skin, stomach acid, and antimicrobial chemicals of the immune system.
Biofilms
- Microbes can attach to solid surfaces and grow into complex masses called biofilms.
- Biofilms can form on rocks, pipes, teeth, medical implants, etc.
- Some biofilms are beneficial, such as those protecting mucous membranes and providing food in aquatic ecosystems.
- Some biofilms are harmful, such as those clogging water pipes, causing infections on medical implants, and often being resistant to antibiotics.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
- An infectious disease occurs when a pathogen invades a host and overcomes resistance.
- Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are new diseases or those increasing in incidence.
- EIDs emerge due to evolutionary changes (like antibiotic resistance), modern transportation, and increased human exposure to infectious agents caused by deforestation and construction.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of microorganisms and their roles in our daily lives. This quiz covers various types of microbes, their beneficial and harmful effects, and the importance of the human microbiome. Understand how microbes contribute to health, food production, and the environment.
