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Questions and Answers
Which domain of life is the primary emphasis of the course?
Which domain of life is the primary emphasis of the course?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of viruses?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of viruses?
What is the primary difference between viruses and other microbes?
What is the primary difference between viruses and other microbes?
Which domain of life includes 'extremophiles'?
Which domain of life includes 'extremophiles'?
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What is the primary role of viruses in microbiology?
What is the primary role of viruses in microbiology?
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Which of the following is a eukaryotic microbe?
Which of the following is a eukaryotic microbe?
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What is the primary characteristic of microbes?
What is the primary characteristic of microbes?
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What is the presumed function of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)?
What is the presumed function of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)?
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What led to the development of aerobic organisms and the formation of an ozone layer on Earth?
What led to the development of aerobic organisms and the formation of an ozone layer on Earth?
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What theory explains the evolution of eukaryotic cells?
What theory explains the evolution of eukaryotic cells?
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What is the estimated ratio of microbes to animals in terms of biomass on Earth?
What is the estimated ratio of microbes to animals in terms of biomass on Earth?
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What impact do microbial communities have on evolution and diversity?
What impact do microbial communities have on evolution and diversity?
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Roughly how many microbial cells inhabit the human body in comparison to human cells?
Roughly how many microbial cells inhabit the human body in comparison to human cells?
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What is a major global health problem related to microbes?
What is a major global health problem related to microbes?
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What is expanding and offering exciting future possibilities for various applications?
What is expanding and offering exciting future possibilities for various applications?
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What is the primary purpose of scientific classification for organisms?
What is the primary purpose of scientific classification for organisms?
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How are the scientific names of microbes typically presented?
How are the scientific names of microbes typically presented?
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What is the basis for the Woese tree of life?
What is the basis for the Woese tree of life?
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What is the purpose of SSU rRNA sequencing in microbiology?
What is the purpose of SSU rRNA sequencing in microbiology?
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How can phylogenetic trees be affected in microbiology?
How can phylogenetic trees be affected in microbiology?
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What is the broader classification level in the scientific naming of organisms?
What is the broader classification level in the scientific naming of organisms?
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In what language are scientific names of microbes typically presented?
In what language are scientific names of microbes typically presented?
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What do phylogenetic trees visually show?
What do phylogenetic trees visually show?
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How are higher taxa names typically presented in scientific classification?
How are higher taxa names typically presented in scientific classification?
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What feature can be used to group strains of microbes?
What feature can be used to group strains of microbes?
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What is taxonomy?
What is taxonomy?
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What is phylogeny?
What is phylogeny?
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What do taxonomists use to make classifications?
What do taxonomists use to make classifications?
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What is the hierarchical order of similarity levels in taxonomy?
What is the hierarchical order of similarity levels in taxonomy?
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What are the levels of classification in taxonomy, from broadest to most specific?
What are the levels of classification in taxonomy, from broadest to most specific?
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What is the correct taxonomic classification of the red fox?
What is the correct taxonomic classification of the red fox?
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What is the correct taxonomic classification of Escherichia coli?
What is the correct taxonomic classification of Escherichia coli?
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Who is known for the development of taxonomy in the 1700s?
Who is known for the development of taxonomy in the 1700s?
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What is the process of inferring evolutionary relationships between microbes called?
What is the process of inferring evolutionary relationships between microbes called?
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What is the primary emphasis of taxonomy and phylogeny?
What is the primary emphasis of taxonomy and phylogeny?
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What is the primary focus of taxonomy?
What is the primary focus of taxonomy?
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What is the study of the evolutionary relationships between different organisms called?
What is the study of the evolutionary relationships between different organisms called?
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What do taxonomists use to make classifications?
What do taxonomists use to make classifications?
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Which domain of life includes the microbe Escherichia coli?
Which domain of life includes the microbe Escherichia coli?
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What is the correct taxonomic classification of Escherichia coli?
What is the correct taxonomic classification of Escherichia coli?
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What is the primary role of viruses in microbiology?
What is the primary role of viruses in microbiology?
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What is the basis for the Woese tree of life?
What is the basis for the Woese tree of life?
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What is the estimated ratio of microbes to animals in terms of biomass on Earth?
What is the estimated ratio of microbes to animals in terms of biomass on Earth?
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What is the process of inferring evolutionary relationships between microbes called?
What is the process of inferring evolutionary relationships between microbes called?
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In what language are scientific names of microbes typically presented?
In what language are scientific names of microbes typically presented?
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What is the primary basis for the Woese tree of life?
What is the primary basis for the Woese tree of life?
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Which feature can be used to group strains of microbes?
Which feature can be used to group strains of microbes?
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What is the primary function of SSU rRNA sequencing in microbiology?
What is the primary function of SSU rRNA sequencing in microbiology?
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How are species names typically presented in scientific classification?
How are species names typically presented in scientific classification?
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What is the primary language used for scientific names of microbes?
What is the primary language used for scientific names of microbes?
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What is the presumed function of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)?
What is the presumed function of the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA)?
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What can affect the accuracy of phylogenetic trees in microbiology?
What can affect the accuracy of phylogenetic trees in microbiology?
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What is the primary purpose of taxonomy in microbiology?
What is the primary purpose of taxonomy in microbiology?
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What do phylogenetic trees visually show?
What do phylogenetic trees visually show?
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What is the broader classification level in the scientific naming of organisms?
What is the broader classification level in the scientific naming of organisms?
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Study Notes
Microbial World: Key Points
- RNA world hypothesis suggests that RNA molecules were the first self-replicating entities with simple and complex functions, leading to the formation of more complex RNA-protein systems.
- The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) is presumed to have had DNA replication, transcription, translation, and anaerobic metabolism, with a limited number of genes shared by modern organisms.
- The rise of oxygen on Earth, due to the emergence of photosynthetic bacteria, led to the development of aerobic organisms and the formation of an ozone layer, making the planet more habitable.
- The endosymbiotic theory explains the evolution of eukaryotic cells, suggesting that mitochondria and chloroplasts were once independent bacteria that were engulfed by ancestral cells.
- Microbes dominate Earth's biomass, with an estimated 1 x 10^30 microbes compared to around 2 x 10^19 animals, and they are prevalent in virtually every habitat, including extreme environments.
- Microbial communities are diverse and competitive, driving evolution and diversity through various interactions, from fiercely competitive to obligately symbiotic.
- Microbes inhabit human bodies, with roughly the same number of microbial and human cells, and they come in diverse shapes and sizes, impacting human health and disease.
- Microbes have a major impact on human lives, from causing diseases to being used in industry, biotechnology, and the production of favorite foods through fermentation.
- The prevalence of microbial diseases remains a major global health problem, particularly in the developing world, and the rise of antibiotic resistance poses a threat to human progress.
- The use of microbes in industry and biotechnology is expanding, offering exciting future possibilities for various applications.
- Many favorite foods are made using microbial fermentation, showcasing the essential role of microbes in food production and human nutrition.
- Microbes have played a significant role in human history, from causing diseases to being used in industry and biotechnology, highlighting their importance in various aspects of human life.
Scientific Classification and Phylogenetic Trees
- Organisms are classified using a system to bring structure and minimize chaos when new species are discovered
- Each organism has a genus and species name, with the genus being more broad
- Scientific names of microbes are in Latin and may describe characteristics or honor scientists
- Species names are italicized or underlined, and higher taxa are not italicized but capitalized
- Some microbes are classified more specifically than species, such as subspecies, biovar, and serovar
- Strains can be grouped based on important features, such as pathotypes
- Taxonomy helps to bring order to the incredible diversity of organisms and allows effective communication
- Phylogenetic trees visually show evolutionary relationships between different organisms
- DNA sequences are compared to determine how closely related organisms are
- SSU rRNA sequencing is commonly used to infer phylogenetic relationships
- The Woese tree of life is based on nucleotide sequence similarity in ribosomal RNA and established the presence of three domains of life
- Phylogenetic trees are predictions and can be affected by horizontal gene transfer, where microbes acquire foreign DNA through recombination
Scientific Classification and Phylogenetic Trees
- Organisms are classified using a system to bring structure and minimize chaos when new species are discovered
- Each organism has a genus and species name, with the genus being more broad
- Scientific names of microbes are in Latin and may describe characteristics or honor scientists
- Species names are italicized or underlined, and higher taxa are not italicized but capitalized
- Some microbes are classified more specifically than species, such as subspecies, biovar, and serovar
- Strains can be grouped based on important features, such as pathotypes
- Taxonomy helps to bring order to the incredible diversity of organisms and allows effective communication
- Phylogenetic trees visually show evolutionary relationships between different organisms
- DNA sequences are compared to determine how closely related organisms are
- SSU rRNA sequencing is commonly used to infer phylogenetic relationships
- The Woese tree of life is based on nucleotide sequence similarity in ribosomal RNA and established the presence of three domains of life
- Phylogenetic trees are predictions and can be affected by horizontal gene transfer, where microbes acquire foreign DNA through recombination
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Description
Test your knowledge of the microbial world with this quiz covering key points such as the RNA world hypothesis, the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA), the rise of oxygen on Earth, the endosymbiotic theory, microbial communities, microbial impact on human health and disease, industrial and biotechnological applications of microbes, antibiotic resistance, and the historical significance of microbes.
