1. Introduction to Clinical Microbiology Flashcards
Define classification.
Arrangement of organisms into groups based on similarity.
Define nomenclature.
The assignment of names.
What is the identification role in taxonomy?
To determine in which group a new isolate belongs.
What are microorganisms?
Living creatures
Unicellular
0.1mm and smaller
What are the two cells present in microorganisms?
Eukaryotic and prokaryotic.
Describe a eukaryotic cell.
Organized nucleus
Several chromosomes
Surrounded by a nuclear membrane
Describe a prokaryotic cell.
Lack an organized nucleus
No nuclear membrane
Single chromosome
What are the four kingdoms that classify all living organisms?
Plantae
Animalis
Protista
Procaryotae (Monera)
Name the order of taxonomic groups.
Kingdom, division, class, order, family, tribe, genus, species
King David Came Over For The Good Spaghetti
What is the definition of a species?
A population of cells with similar characteristics
Are distinguishable from members of another species
What is a genus?
A group of closely related species
What is a tribe?
A group of related genera
What is a family?
A group of related genera or tribes.
What is a type strain?
One strain of species that is used as a reference or example specimen for that species name.
Define subspecies.
An official taxonomic group that are smaller than a species, with minor but consistent differences from the type species.
What is a biotype?
A type of subspecies that are distinguished by biochemical or physiological properties that are different than that of the type strain.
What is a serotype?
A type of subspecies distinguished antigenic or serological properties that are different from that of the type strain.
Define nomenclature. What is the proper way to name bacteria?
Naming rules for bacteria.
Genus name followed by a species name.
What are the Latin endings for a genus name?
- us
- um
- a
What is the proper way to name bacteria?
First letter of the genus name is capitalized.
Written in italics or underlined.
Eg. Salmonella typhi (italics)
What is the early classification method?
The key system
Bacterial shapes and gram staining reactions heavily weighed.
How is the base composition of nucleic acid related to classification?
All bacteria of the same species have the same C+G content, and closely related species would have similar C+G content.
Describe nucleic acid hybridization in relation to classification.
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.
What does numerical taxonomy involve?
Computers comparing characteristics of organisms together to determine the percent of similarity.
What is taxonomy?
The science of classification
