Questions and Answers
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes prokaryotic cells from eukaryotic cells?
The presence or absence of a true nucleus.
How do Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria differ in terms of their cell walls?
Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer, while Gram-negative bacteria have a thin peptidoglycan layer and an outer membrane.
What is the primary role of fungi in ecosystems, and how do they achieve this function?
The primary role of fungi is decomposition and nutrient cycling, which they achieve through saprotrophic metabolism.
How do autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria differ in terms of their metabolic strategies?
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What is the term for the symbiotic relationship between fungi and the roots of plants, and what is its importance?
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How do aerobic and anaerobic bacteria differ in terms of their metabolic requirements?
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What is the primary difference between molds and yeasts, and how do these differences relate to their ecology and evolution?
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Study Notes
Microorganisms
Bacteria
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Characteristics:
- Prokaryotic cells (no true nucleus)
- Typically 0.5-5.0 μm in size
- Cell walls contain peptidoglycan (also known as murein)
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Types:
- Gram-positive (e.g., Staphylococcus, Bacillus)
- Gram-negative (e.g., E. coli, Salmonella)
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Metabolism:
- Autotrophic (produce own food) or heterotrophic (obtain food from environment)
- Aerobic (require oxygen) or anaerobic (do not require oxygen)
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Importance:
- Decomposition and nutrient cycling
- Symbiotic relationships with humans and animals (e.g., gut flora)
- Pathogenesis (disease-causing)
Fungi
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Characteristics:
- Eukaryotic cells (true nucleus)
- Multicellular or unicellular
- Cell walls contain chitin
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Types:
- Molds (e.g., Aspergillus, Penicillium)
- Yeasts (e.g., Candida, Saccharomyces)
- Mushrooms (e.g., Agaricus, Boletus)
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Metabolism:
- Heterotrophic (obtain food from environment)
- Saprotrophic (obtain nutrients by breaking down organic matter)
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Importance:
- Decomposition and nutrient cycling
- Symbiotic relationships with plants (mycorrhizal fungi)
- Pathogenesis (disease-causing) and food spoilage
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