Microbiology Branches and Microorganism Characteristics

Study Notes

Branches of Microbiology

Bacteriology: study of bacteria
Virology: study of viruses
Mycology: study of fungi
Parasitology: study of parasites
Microbial ecology: study of interactions between microorganisms and their environment

Microorganism Characteristics

Microscopic size: too small to be seen with the naked eye
Unicellular: single-celled organisms
Eukaryotic or prokaryotic: cells with or without a true nucleus
Autotrophic or heterotrophic: ability to produce own food or require external food sources

Microbial Growth and Reproduction

Binary fission: process of cell division
Spore formation: dormant, resistant structures for survival
Colonial growth: growth of microorganisms in a group
Generation time: time required for a population to double

Microbial Metabolism

Aerobic: requires oxygen for growth
Anaerobic: does not require oxygen for growth
Fermentation: process of energy production in absence of oxygen
Respiration: process of energy production in presence of oxygen

Microbial Interactions

Symbiosis: close, long-term relationships between different species
Mutualism: both species benefit from interaction
Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is unaffected
Parasitism: one species benefits, the other is harmed

Microbial Control and Applications

Sterilization: complete elimination of microorganisms
Disinfection: reduction of microorganisms
Antimicrobial agents: substances that inhibit or kill microorganisms
Vaccines: preparations that stimulate immune responses
Microbial biotechnology: use of microorganisms for industrial, medical, and environmental applications

Branches of Microbiology

Study of bacteria is known as Bacteriology
Virology is the study of viruses
Mycology is the study of fungi
Parasitology is the study of parasites
Microbial ecology is the study of interactions between microorganisms and their environment

Microorganism Characteristics

Microorganisms are microscopic in size, too small to be seen with the naked eye
Microorganisms are unicellular, meaning they are single-celled organisms
Microorganisms can be either eukaryotic (with a true nucleus) or prokaryotic (without a true nucleus)
Microorganisms can be either autotrophic (producing their own food) or heterotrophic (requiring external food sources)

Microbial Growth and Reproduction

Binary fission is the process of cell division in microorganisms
Spore formation is a mechanism for microorganisms to survive in dormant, resistant structures
Microorganisms can grow in colonies, a group of microorganisms
Generation time is the time required for a population of microorganisms to double

Microbial Metabolism

Aerobic microorganisms require oxygen for growth
Anaerobic microorganisms do not require oxygen for growth
Fermentation is a process of energy production in microorganisms in the absence of oxygen
Respiration is a process of energy production in microorganisms in the presence of oxygen

Microbial Interactions

Symbiosis is a close, long-term relationship between different species
Mutualism is a type of symbiosis where both species benefit from the interaction
Commensalism is a type of symbiosis where one species benefits, and the other is unaffected
Parasitism is a type of symbiosis where one species benefits, and the other is harmed

Microbial Control and Applications

Sterilization is the complete elimination of microorganisms
Disinfection is the reduction of microorganisms
Antimicrobial agents are substances that inhibit or kill microorganisms
Vaccines are preparations that stimulate immune responses
Microbial biotechnology is the use of microorganisms for industrial, medical, and environmental applications

Description

This quiz covers the different branches of microbiology, including bacteriology, virology, mycology, and parasitology, as well as the characteristics of microorganisms such as their microscopic size, unicellular structure, and nutrition modes.