Microorganisms and Their Importance

Questions and Answers

What are microorganisms?

Organisms that are too small to be seen with the unaided eye.

What is a germ?

A rapidly growing cell.

What does pathogenic mean?

Disease-causing.

What are some good things that microbes do?

They decompose organic waste, are producers in ecosystems, produce industrial chemicals, fermented foods, products for manufacturing and treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What does knowledge of microorganisms allow humans to do?

Prevent food spoilage, prevent disease occurrence, led to aseptic techniques. Signup and view all the answers

What are aseptic techniques?

Techniques that keep things sterile and avoid cross-contamination. Signup and view all the answers

Who established the system of scientific nomenclature?

Linnaeus. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two names each organism has called?

The Genus and the Species. Signup and view all the answers

How do scientific names differ from other names?

They are italicized or underlined, with the genus capitalized and species lowercase. Signup and view all the answers

What is Escherichia coli?

A bacterium found in the large intestine, named after its discoverer Theodor Escherich. Signup and view all the answers

What does Staphylococcus aureus describe?

It describes the clustered spherical arrangement and gold color of the bacterium's colonies. Signup and view all the answers

How are scientific names used in writing?

They may be abbreviated after the first use. Signup and view all the answers

What are some types of microorganisms?

Bacteria, Archaea, Fungi, Protozoa, Algae, Viruses, Multicellular animal parasites. Signup and view all the answers

What is bacteria?

Prokaryotic organisms with peptidoglycan cell walls that reproduce via binary fission. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Archaea?

They are prokaryotic, lack peptidoglycan, and live in extreme environments. Signup and view all the answers

What are fungi?

Eukaryotic organisms with chitin cell walls that use organic chemicals for energy. Signup and view all the answers

Are molds and mushrooms unicellular?

False Signup and view all the answers

Are yeasts unicellular?

True Signup and view all the answers

What are protozoa?

Eukaryotic organisms that absorb or ingest organic chemicals and are often motile. Signup and view all the answers

What do algae use for energy?

Photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What are viruses?

Acellular entities that consist of DNA or RNA core surrounded by a protein coat. Signup and view all the answers

What are multicellular animal parasites?

Eukaryotic organisms usually consisting of microscopic stages in their life cycles. Signup and view all the answers

What are parasitic flatworms and roundworms called?

Helminths. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three domains in the classification of microorganisms?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya. Signup and view all the answers

Which domain is further subdivided into kingdoms?

The Eukarya. Signup and view all the answers

What was the first life on Earth?

Ancestors of bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

When were the first microbes observed?

<ol start="1673"> <li></li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What did Robert Hooke observe?

Living things were composed of little boxes, or cells. Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered that cells arise from preexisting cells?

Rudolf Virchow in 1858. Signup and view all the answers

What is Cell Theory?

All living things are composed of cells and come from preexisting cells. Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first person to discover live microorganisms?

Anton van Leeuwenhoek between 1673-1723. Signup and view all the answers

What is spontaneous generation?

The hypothesis that living organisms arise from nonliving material. Signup and view all the answers

What is biogenesis?

The hypothesis that living organisms arise from preexisting life. Signup and view all the answers

What did Pasteur's S-shaped flask demonstrate?

It kept microbes out but allowed air in. Signup and view all the answers

What did Louis Pasteur demonstrate in 1861?

That microorganisms were present in the air. Signup and view all the answers

What was the Golden Age of Microbiology?

1857-1914, marked by discoveries related to microbes and disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is fermentation?

The conversion of sugar to alcohol to make beer and wine. Signup and view all the answers

Microbial growth is responsible for the spoilage of food.

True Signup and view all the answers

What did Pasteur demonstrate about killing bacteria that spoiled food?

It could be killed by heat that was not hot enough to evaporate the alcohol in wine. Signup and view all the answers

What is pasteurization?

The application of high heat for a short time to kill microorganisms. Signup and view all the answers

How was the first vaccination discovered?

In 1796, Edward Jenner inoculated a person with cowpox virus. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the word 'Vaccination' come from?

'Vacca,' which means cow. Signup and view all the answers

What is protection against disease called?

Immunity. Signup and view all the answers

What is chemotherapy?

Treatment with chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

What are synthetic drugs?

Another name for antibiotics, used to treat infectious diseases. Signup and view all the answers

What are antibiotics?

Chemicals produced by bacteria and fungi that inhibit or kill other microbes. Signup and view all the answers

Who discovered the first antibiotic?

Alexander Fleming. Signup and view all the answers

What is bacteriology?

The study of bacteria. Signup and view all the answers

What is mycology?

The study of fungi. Signup and view all the answers

What is virology?

The study of viruses. Signup and view all the answers

What is parasitology?

The study of protozoa and parasitic worms. Signup and view all the answers

What is immunology?

The study of immunity. Signup and view all the answers

What did Rebecca Lancefield propose in 1933?

The use of immunology to identify some bacteria according to serotypes. Signup and view all the answers

What is microbial genetics?

The study of how microbes inherit traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is molecular biology?

The study of how DNA directs protein synthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is genomics?

The study of an organism's genes. Signup and view all the answers

What is recombinant DNA?

DNA made from two different sources. Signup and view all the answers

What do bacteria recycle?

Carbon, nutrients, sulfur, and phosphorus. Signup and view all the answers

What are prions?

Infectious protein particles. Signup and view all the answers

What is bioremediation?

Using bacteria to degrade organic matter and detoxify pollutants. Signup and view all the answers

What are biological insecticides?

Microbes that are pathogenic to insects. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a biological insecticide?

Bacillus thuringiensis. Signup and view all the answers

What is biotechnology?

The use of microbes to produce foods and chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

What is recombinant DNA technology?

A new technique for biotechnology that enables the production of various proteins. Signup and view all the answers

What is gene therapy?

The process of replacing missing or defective genes in human cells. Signup and view all the answers

What are genetically modified bacteria used for?

To protect crops from insects and freezing. Signup and view all the answers

What are normal microbiota?

Microbes normally present in and on the human body. Signup and view all the answers

Normal microbiota prevent growth of pathogens.

True Signup and view all the answers

What growth factors do normal microbiota produce?

Folic Acid and Vitamin K. Signup and view all the answers

What is resistance in terms of health?

The ability of the body to ward off disease. Signup and view all the answers

What are biofilms?

Microbes attach to solid surfaces and grow into masses. Signup and view all the answers

How does a disease result?

When a pathogen overcomes the host's resistance. Signup and view all the answers

What are emerging infectious diseases (EIDs)?

New diseases and diseases increasing in incidence. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Microorganisms and Their Importance

Microorganisms are organisms too small to be seen without a microscope.
Germs refer to rapidly growing microbial cells.
Pathogenic organisms are those capable of causing diseases.

Benefits of Microbes

Microbes decompose organic waste, preventing accumulation.
They are producers via photosynthesis, contributing to the ecosystem.
Industrial chemicals (like ethanol) are produced by microbes.
Fermented foods include vinegar, cheese, and bread, created through microbial processes.
Products like insulin are manufactured using microbial techniques.
Microbes play a role in creating materials like designer jeans.

Understanding Microorganisms

Knowledge of microorganisms helps prevent food spoilage and disease.
Aseptic techniques are used in laboratories and medicine to maintain sterility and prevent contamination.

Scientific Nomenclature

Linnaeus established the binomial naming system for organisms: Genus and Species.
Scientific names are italicized; genus name starts with a capital letter while species is in lowercase (e.g., E. coli).
Names can honor scientists or describe the organism's traits or habitat.

Types of Microorganisms

Major groups include:
- Bacteria: Prokaryotic, with peptidoglycan cell walls, reproduce via binary fission.
- Archaea: Prokaryotic, lack peptidoglycan, thrive in extreme environments like high salt or heat.
- Fungi: Eukaryotic with chitin cell walls, use organic chemicals for energy, include molds and mushrooms.
- Protozoa: Eukaryotic, absorb or ingest organic chemicals, may be motile.
- Algae: Eukaryotic, have cellulose cell walls, carry out photosynthesis.
- Viruses: Acellular, consist of DNA or RNA core plus a protein coat, require a host cell to replicate.
- Multicellular Animal Parasites: Eukaryotic, include helminths (flatworms and roundworms).

Classification Domains

Three domains: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.
Eukarya is further divided into kingdoms: Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals.

Historical Milestones in Microbiology

The first life forms on Earth were bacterial ancestors.
Microorganisms first observed in 1673.
Robert Hooke described cells in living organisms.
Rudolf Virchow stated cells arise from preexisting cells; forms basis of Cell Theory.
Anton van Leeuwenhoek discovered live microorganisms between 1673-1723.

Concepts of Spontaneous Generation and Biogenesis

Spontaneous generation proposed that life arises from non-living material.
Biogenesis posits that living organisms arise from preexisting life.
Pasteur’s experiments clarified the origin of microbes and debunked spontaneous generation.

Methods of Disease Prevention and Treatment

Pasteur's research led to discoveries in fermentation and pasteurization—using heat to kill harmful microbes without altering food quality.
Edward Jenner developed the first vaccination against smallpox using cowpox in 1796.
Immunity refers to the body's ability to resist disease.
Antibiotics, discovered by Alexander Fleming, target microbial infections and are derived from natural compounds.

Areas of Microbiology Study

Bacteriology: Study of bacteria.
Mycology: Study of fungi.
Virology: Study of viruses.
Parasitology: Study of protozoa and parasitic worms.
Immunology: Study of immunity and immune responses.
Microbial Genetics: Study of microbial inheritance.
Molecular Biology: Study of DNA and protein synthesis.
Genomics: Study of genes for microbiological classification.

Practical Applications of Microbiology

Bacteria recycle nutrients essential for ecosystems.
Bioremediation uses microbes to degrade pollutants like oil and heavy metals.
Biological insecticides, like Bacillus thuringiensis, offer eco-friendly pest control.

Role of Normal Microbiota

Normal microbiota inhabit the human body and protect against pathogens.
They contribute to the synthesis of vitamins like Folic acid and Vitamin K.
Biofilms are microbial communities that form on surfaces, including medical devices.

Disease Dynamics

Diseases occur when pathogens overpower the host's defenses.
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are new or resurging infections.

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Description

This quiz explores the role of microorganisms in ecology, industry, and health. It covers their benefits, pathogenic potential, and scientific classification, highlighting their significance in various processes. Understand how microbes contribute to our daily lives and their applications in various fields.