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Questions and Answers
Yeast can produce useful byproducts like ethanol, acetic acid, and lactic acid through fermentation of sugars.
Yeast can produce useful byproducts like ethanol, acetic acid, and lactic acid through fermentation of sugars.
True
Protozoans play a role in reducing bacteria through flocculation and grazing in wastewater treatment plants.
Protozoans play a role in reducing bacteria through flocculation and grazing in wastewater treatment plants.
True
Fungi are autotrophic organisms that can produce their own food.
Fungi are autotrophic organisms that can produce their own food.
False
Penicillin is produced by the fungus Penicillium notatum.
Penicillin is produced by the fungus Penicillium notatum.
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Some protozoans can survive in extreme conditions like compost heaps.
Some protozoans can survive in extreme conditions like compost heaps.
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Eukaryotic organisms can only be found in marine environments.
Eukaryotic organisms can only be found in marine environments.
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Fungi generally have cell walls that are protein-rich.
Fungi generally have cell walls that are protein-rich.
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Protozoans help sustain bacterial populations by directly providing them with nutrients.
Protozoans help sustain bacterial populations by directly providing them with nutrients.
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Fungi can enhance plant biodiversity by acting as natural pesticides against insects.
Fungi can enhance plant biodiversity by acting as natural pesticides against insects.
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Eukaryotes are exclusively parasitic and cannot exist as free-living organisms.
Eukaryotes are exclusively parasitic and cannot exist as free-living organisms.
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Study Notes
Overview of Environmental Microbiology
- Environmental microbiology is the study of microbial communities in the environment (soil, water, air, and sediments) and their application in resolving environmental problems.
- The field interfaces with various subspecialties, including soil, aquatic, and aeromicrobiology, bioremediation, water quality, occupational health and infection control, food safety, and industrial microbiology.
Mission of Environmental Microbiologists
- The mission is to pursue environmental sustainability, which is the utilization of environmental resources for human health and welfare without harming the physical environment or biological communities.
Characteristics of Microbes
- Microbes are small (10-6 m = 1 μm), unicellular, and diverse in metabolism and physiology.
- They can produce energy in different ways (heterotrophic and autotrophic) and are adaptable, ubiquitous, and can survive in various environments.
Prokaryotes
- Prokaryotes include bacteria and archaea, which are small (0.1-600 μm), unicellular, and have diverse metabolism and physiology.
- They are ubiquitous, with 10^6 cells/mL in natural waters and 10^9 cells/g in soils and sediments.
Cell Morphology
- Bacterial shapes include coccus, rod, spirillum, spirochete, stalk, hypha, and filamentous.
- Cell size varies with nutritional state, and smaller cells have a higher surface-to-volume ratio, allowing them to take up nutrients efficiently.
Chemical Composition
- Bacteria and archaea have a dry weight (DW) to wet weight (WW) ratio of 0.2-0.4, with 70% water content.
- The DW composition includes C (50%), P (3%), O (20%), K (2%), N (14%), S (1%), and others.
Bacterial Cell Walls
- Bacteria are classified into Gram-negative and Gram-positive based on their cell walls.
- Peptidoglycan is the primary component of bacterial cell walls, and Gram-positive bacteria have a higher peptidoglycan content.
Appendages
- Flagella (singular flagellum) allow bacteria to move towards a point source of nutrients.
- Fimbriae (singular fimbria) aid in attachment to surfaces and are involved in biofilm formation and infection processes.
- Pili (singular pilus) are involved in mating processes and are found only in Gram-negative bacteria.
Internal Structure
- Ribosomes turn mRNA into proteins and are evolutionarily conserved structures.
- Cytoplasm is the gel-like fluid that fills each cell, providing an aqueous environment for chemical reactions.
- DNA contains the genetic material and instructions for the cell's abilities and characteristics.
Eukaryotes
- Eukaryotes include protozoa, fungi, and other organisms that are found in freshwater, marine, and soil environments.
- They can be free-living, parasitic, or mutualistic and have ecological importance in nutrient recycling, wastewater treatment, and as environmental quality indicators.
Ecological Importance of Protozoa and Fungi
- Protozoa aid in nutrient recycling, sustain bacterial populations, and participate in wastewater treatment.
- Fungi can degrade complex polymers, produce useful byproducts, and have pharmaceutical importance.
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Description
This quiz provides an overview of environmental microbiology, focusing on the study of microbial communities in various environments like soil, water, air, and sediments. It covers the composition and physiology of these communities and their impact on artificial environments.
