Microbiology: Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes

Study Notes

The study of living organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye
Microorganisms are important in maintaining Earth's ecological balance
Some microorganisms live in humans and animals and are needed to maintain health
Microorganisms are used to produce foods and chemicals
Some microorganisms cause disease

Prokaryotes have circular DNA in a nucleoid region
Eukaryotes have linear DNA in a nucleus
Prokaryotes do not have membrane-bound organelles
Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles, including mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
Prokaryotic cells are typically smaller (1-10 μm)
Eukaryotic cells are typically larger (10-100 μm)
Prokaryotes have 70S ribosomes
Eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes
Prokaryotes do not have cytoplasmic streaming
Eukaryotes have cytoplasmic streaming in some cells
Prokaryotes divide by binary fission
Eukaryotes divide by mitosis (somatic cells) and meiosis (reproductive cells)
Examples of prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea
Examples of eukaryotes include animals, plants, fungi, and protists
Prokaryotes have simple membrane structures
Eukaryotes have complex membrane structures with sterols, like cholesterol
Prokaryotes have simple flagella without microtubules
Eukaryotes have complex flagella with microtubules

Bacteriology: study of bacteria, small single-celled prokaryotic organisms
Mycology: study of fungi, eukaryotic organisms including microscopic molds and yeasts in addition to larger organisms like mushrooms
Virology: study of viruses, minute non-cellular particles that parasitize cells
Parasitology: study of parasitism and parasitic organisms, traditionally including pathogenic protozoa, helminth worms, and certain insects.

Classifying organisms according to their similarity
Members of lower taxa (e.g., Species) are more similar to each other than higher taxa (e.g., Kingdom or Domain)

Scientific name: genus and species (excluding viruses)
Genus: capitalized, comes before species (e.g., Escherichia coli)
Species: not capitalized (e.g., Escherichia coli)
Both names are italicized or underlined (e.g., Escherichia coli)
The genus name can be used alone, but the species name cannot. (e.g., "Escherichia" is legitimate; "coli" is not).