2.6 Environmental Control of Metabolism Flashcards
What are the three domains of life?
Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, Archaea
Why are microorganisms useful in research and industrial processes?
- cheap
- grow fast
- easy to cultivate
- ability to produce many different products
What do microorganisms need to survive?
Energy source and raw materials for biosynthesis
What four factors must be monitored when culturing cells?
- Sterility
- Temperature
- Oxygen Concentration
- pH
Define ‘Sterile’
Free from contamination
Why is making the culture sterile important?
Contaminating Micro-organisms may compete for resources and limit the growth of culture and so this must be resolved
Why is a temperature an important factor to be controlled?
Important to ensure enzymes are working at their optimum in order to achieve the maximum growth rate
How is temperature monitored in a culture?
Using a thermometer
Define ‘growth’
Growth is the irreversible increase in dry biomass of an organism
What is ‘Generation Time’?
Number of time taken for one cell to divide into two daughter cells
What is the difference between the total cell count and the viable cell count?
Total cell count - number of cells visible in field of view (dead or alive)
Viable cell count - number of cells that are alive
What is used to count the total cell count and the viable cell count?
Haemocytometer
What are the four stages in the growth of a microorganism?
1 - Lag
2 - Log/Exponential
3 - Stationary
4 - Death
Describe the Lag phase
Microbes are adjusting to condition
Describe the Log/Exponential phase
contains the most rapid growth of micro-organisms due to plentiful nutrients.