Bacterial endospores

Question 1

What do most unicellular bacteria not produce?

Answer 1

Any spores for survival

Question 2

Name two genera of gram positive bacteria that can form endospores;

Answer 2

1) bacillus

2) clostridium

Question 3

What are vegative cells also known as?

Answer 3

Growing cells

Question 4

What are the most resistant forms of life known?

Answer 4

Endospores

Question 5

How long can endospores remain viable?

Answer 5

In a metabolically inactive state for at least 300 years

Question 6

What are some differences between endospores and vegetive cells?

Answer 6

VEGATIVE CELLS;
-smaller and highly refractible

-much lower water content

-contain large amounts of calcium dipicolinate

Question 7

In order to grow, what are 4 things all organisms require?

Answer 7

-chemical elements
-energy
-autotrophs
-heterotrophs

Question 8

What is an autotroph?

Answer 8

Light / oxidation of inorganic compounds

Question 9

What is a heterotroph?

Answer 9

Organic compound

Question 10

What are 5 carbon sources for nutritional requirements of endospores?

Answer 10

• glucose
  -maltrose
  -sucrose
  -starch
  -cellulose

Question 11

What is the function of glucose as a carbon source?

Answer 11

Glucose is utilised by virtually all microorganisms

Question 12

What are the functions of Maltrose, sucrose and starch as carbon sources?

Answer 12

Good sources of carbon for most microorganisms

Question 13

What is the difference between starch and maltose &sucrose?

Answer 13

Starch is a polysaccharide

Maltrose & sucrose are disaccharides

Question 14

Why is cellulose a carbon source used for bacterial endospores?

Answer 14

Slowly hydrolyses by some bacteria and many ‘higher fungi’

Question 15

Name 4 nitrogen sources for endospores

Answer 15

N2

NH4+

NO3

NO2

Question 16

What do microorganisms utilise?

Answer 16

Inorganic and organic sources of nitrogen

Question 17

Where are inorganic sources found?

Answer 17

Atmosphere

Question 18

Where are organic sources of nitrogen found?

Answer 18

Amino acids

Question 19

Why are nitrates not used as a sources of nitrogen for microorganisms?

Answer 19

Inability to utilise nitrates is common abd may be ecologically important

Question 20

If NH4+ is unable to be used what do micro organisms depend on?

Answer 20

Amino acids

Question 21

What is the process of nitrogen fixing bacteria for nitrogen?

Answer 21

Atmospheric (inorganic) N2 is reduced to NH3

Question 22

What is culture media and an example;

Answer 22

-used to grow bacteria ( or fungi) in the lab

Liquid- broth
Solid-agar