Questions and Answers
What is taxonomy?
The science of classification, involving arranging related organisms into logical categories.
What is Systema Naturae?
A mid-1700s published piece establishing a uniform system for naming organisms.
What do scientific names consist of?
Each name includes two words: the genus and the specific epithet/species.
What are the levels of the hierarchical classification system?
Signup and view all the answers
Who coined the term 'protist'?
Signup and view all the answers
What classification system did Robert H. Whittaker and Lynn Margulis develop?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the three domain system?
Signup and view all the answers
What does 'eukaryota' include?
Signup and view all the answers
What characterizes archaea?
Signup and view all the answers
What are eubacteria?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the four major categories of bacteria based on their Gram stain?
Signup and view all the answers
What does phenotypic classification involve?
Signup and view all the answers
What does analytical classification allow us to do?
Signup and view all the answers
What is genotypic classification?
Signup and view all the answers
What does microscopic morphology refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What does macroscopic morphology focus on?
Signup and view all the answers
What does biotyping assess?
Signup and view all the answers
What is serotyping used for?
Signup and view all the answers
What analysis is performed in analytic classification using chromatographic methods?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Taxonomy and Classification
- Taxonomy is the science of classification, organizing related organisms into logical categories.
- "Systema Naturae" is a mid-1700s publication by Carolus Linnaeus establishing a uniform naming system for organisms.
Scientific Nomenclature
- Scientific names consist of two parts: the genus (e.g., Streptococcus) and the specific epithet (e.g., mutans).
- The specific epithet may refer to a metabolite produced by the organism or the disease it causes.
Hierarchical Classification
- The hierarchical classification levels include: species, genus, family, order, class, phylum/division, kingdom, and domain.
- At the species level, organisms share the most similarities; at the domain level, they share the least.
Historical Contributions
- Ernst H. Haeckel coined the term "protist" in 1886 for all microorganisms.
- Robert H. Whittaker and Lynn Margulis developed the five-kingdom system, assigning bacteria their own kingdom.
Three Domain System
- Proposed by Carl Woese, the three domain system places prokaryotes in separate lineages based on ribosomal RNA sequences, antibiotic sensitivity, and cell wall structure.
- The three domains are Bacteria, Eukarya, and Archaea.
Characteristics of Groups
- Eukaryota includes animals, plants, fungi, chromists, dinoflagellates, red algae, and other protista.
- Archaea are known for salt-loving and heat-loving microbes, lacking peptidoglycan in their cell walls.
- Eubacteria encompasses cyanobacteria and heterotrophic bacteria.
Bacterial Features
- Bacteria are prokaryotic, single-celled organisms typically smaller than eukaryotes, around 0.1 to 1.0 micrometer in size.
- They perform similar functions as eukaryotes, can differentiate between food particles and toxins, and have DNA replication.
- Bacterial classification relies on size, shape, and staining properties.
Major Bacterial Categories
- Gram-positive bacteria have 50-90% peptidoglycan in their cell walls.
- Gram-negative bacteria possess an outer membrane with a thin peptidoglycan layer.
- Eubacteria lacking cell walls include Mycoplasma, which have sterols.
- Archaeobacteria thrive in extreme environments such as hypersaline or geothermal zones.
Classification Techniques
- Bacterial classification methods include gram staining, GC content analysis, growth conditions, heat-stable spore formation, respiration methods, photosynthetic abilities, motility, shape, nutrient utilization, and special requirements.
- Classification can be phenotypic (morphological traits and metabolic characteristics), analytical (cell contents and proteins), or genotypic (nucleic acid sequences).
Morphological Classification
- Microscopic morphology refers to shape, size, arrangement, and gram stain results.
- Macroscopic morphology involves hemolytic properties, pigmentation, and colony characteristics.
Functional Classification
- Biotyping includes analysis of fermentation, enzyme presence (proteases, lipases), and aminopeptidases.
- Serotyping detects antigens using antibodies for subspecies identification, with agglutination as a positive reaction.
Chromatographic Analysis
- Methods include cell wall fatty acid analysis, whole cell lipid analysis, and whole cell protein analysis, aiding in detailed classification.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge on the essential terms and concepts of bacterial classification in microbiology. This set of flashcards covers taxonomy, the Systema Naturae, and scientific naming conventions. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of microbial classification.
