1. Introduction to Clinical Microbiology

Question 1

Define classification.

Answer 1

Arrangement of organisms into groups based on similarity.

Question 2

Define nomenclature.

Answer 2

The assignment of names.

Question 3

What is the identification role in taxonomy?

Answer 3

To determine in which group a new isolate belongs.

Question 4

What are microorganisms?

Answer 4

Living creatures
Unicellular
0.1mm and smaller

Question 5

What are the two cells present in microorganisms?

Answer 5

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic.

Question 6

Describe a eukaryotic cell.

Answer 6

Organized nucleus
Several chromosomes
Surrounded by a nuclear membrane

Question 7

Describe a prokaryotic cell.

Answer 7

Lack an organized nucleus
No nuclear membrane
Single chromosome

Question 8

What are the four kingdoms that classify all living organisms?

Answer 8

Plantae
Animalis
Protista
Procaryotae (Monera)

Question 9

Name the order of taxonomic groups.

Answer 9

Kingdom, division, class, order, family, tribe, genus, species

King David Came Over For The Good Spaghetti

Question 10

What is the definition of a species?

Answer 10

A population of cells with similar characteristics

Are distinguishable from members of another species

Question 11

What is a genus?

Answer 11

A group of closely related species

Question 12

What is a tribe?

Answer 12

A group of related genera

Question 13

What is a family?

Answer 13

A group of related genera or tribes.

Question 14

What is a type strain?

Answer 14

One strain of species that is used as a reference or example specimen for that species name.

Question 15

Define subspecies.

Answer 15

An official taxonomic group that are smaller than a species, with minor but consistent differences from the type species.

Question 16

What is a biotype?

Answer 16

A type of subspecies that are distinguished by biochemical or physiological properties that are different than that of the type strain.

Question 17

What is a serotype?

Answer 17

A type of subspecies distinguished antigenic or serological properties that are different from that of the type strain.

Question 18

Define nomenclature. What is the proper way to name bacteria?

Answer 18

Naming rules for bacteria.

Genus name followed by a species name.

Question 19

What are the Latin endings for a genus name?

Answer 19

• us
• um
• a

Question 20

What is the proper way to name bacteria?

Answer 20

First letter of the genus name is capitalized.
Written in italics or underlined.
Eg. Salmonella typhi (italics)

Question 21

What is the early classification method?

Answer 21

The key system

Bacterial shapes and gram staining reactions heavily weighed.

Question 22

How is the base composition of nucleic acid related to classification?

Answer 22

All bacteria of the same species have the same C+G content, and closely related species would have similar C+G content.

Question 23

Describe nucleic acid hybridization in relation to classification.

Answer 23

Double stranded molecules on DNA are separated by heat, then single strands are cooled and hybridize forming identical double stranded DNA to the original. When single strands from two different organisms are cooled, hybridization will only occur if the organisms are the same.

Question 24

What does numerical taxonomy involve?

Answer 24

Computers comparing characteristics of organisms together to determine the percent of similarity.

Question 25

What is taxonomy?

Answer 25

The science of classification