Chapter 1: Main themes of microbio Flashcards
Microbiology
biological specialty - addresses microscopic/ tiny life forms viewed with magnification (pg. 4).
Study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae AKA microbes/microorganisms
Prokaryotes
Earlier and simpler microorganisms without a nucleus or internal structures/organelles. (pg. 6).
Eukaryotes
More complex cell with nucleus + organelles. (pg. 6).
Organelles
specialized structures in a cell
Viruses
small particles made up of hereditary material and covered by a coat of protein.
They are simple/ not really considered alive. They can’t self-replicate. (pg. 8).
Fermentation
chemical process - molecules break down anaerobically (without oxygen)
Bioremediation
process of introducing microbes into an environment to restore stability/ clean toxic pollutants. It is required to control human pollution. (water, oil…) (pg. 11).
emerging disease
newly appeared disease in a population (pg. 12).
re-emerging disease
older, well-known disease
re-appearing disease after a decline or disappearance
Germ theory of disease
Louis Pasteur’s early work>Robert Koch proved
Microorganisms AKA pathogens/germs lead to disease
Taxonomy
system to organize/classify/ name living things
Binomial nomenclature
system of naming microorganisms
Describe the evolutionary history of microbes on earth
-first 3.5 billion years ago. Ancient cells small and simple. Lacked organelles to carry out functions. Prokaryotic, before nucleus.
-1.8 billion years ago, eukaryotes, more complex cell, with true nucleus. Evolved from prokaryotes through endosymbiosis.
How do humans use microbes?
-solve human problems.
-Yeast: microscopic fungi- cause bread to rise, ferment sugar to make alcohol…
-Ancient Egypt: used moldy bread as penicillin for wounds
-Biotechnology: making products industrially, manipulation of microorganisms
-Genetic engineering- newer area of biotech, making new products and genetically modified organisms. 1 technique is Recombinant DNA: alter DNA and switch genetic material from organism to another.
-Bioremediation: introducing microbes into environment to stabilize it or clean up toxic pollutants, like water, oil, metals…
What are the general characteristics of microbes?
-living thing, too small to be seen with eye… need magnification
-they are ubiquitous (found everywhere)
-many relationships with humans, most beneficial, some harmful.
-involved in nutrient production and energy flow. Algea and certain bacteria trap sun’s energy to produce food through photosynthesis.
-other microbes responsible for breakdown and recycling of nutrients through decomposition. Microbes are essential to maintenance of air, soil, water.
-either very small and simple prokaryote, or more complex eukaryote.
-viruses are microbes but not cells they are smaller and infect the prokaryote or eukaryote host to reproduce…
-parasites and pathogens are microorganisms that invade body of hosts causing damage through infection/disease.
Who are the “grandfathers” of microbiology?
Antonie Van Leeuwehoek: invented the first practical microscopes and used them to become the first person to see and describe bacteria, among other microscopic discoveries. Discovered sperm.
Louis Pasteur: understanding of role of microorganisms in medicine and industry. Developed 2 vax: rabies and anthrax. Clarified actions of microbes in wine and beer fermentation. Invented pasteurization and had first studies supporting the germ theory of disease.
Robert Koch: “Koch’s postulates” verified germ theory, could establish if the organism is pathogenic, and which disease it caused. Showed which bacterium caused anthrax.
Joseph Lister: found a way to prevent infection in wounds during and after surgery. He was the first to apply the science of Germ Theory to surgery. Lister’s Antisepsis System is the basis of modern infection control. His principles made surgery safe and continue to save countless lives.
Edward Jenner: English physician and scientist who was the pioneer of smallpox vaccine, the world’s first vaccine
How are microbes organized?
Taxonomy is the hierarchical scheme of organization grouped in categories called taxa based on features from general to specific.
What did Antonie Van Leeuwehoek do?
Dutch merchant and self-made microbiologist “father of microbio”
used magnifying class when making clothes to see threads. Developed compound microscope, 2 levels of magnification.
Lived 1632-1723.
Scientific method steps
-make an observation
-ask a question
-form hypothesis
-conduct experiment
-accept or reject the hypothesis.
What did Edward Jenner do?
-started using the scientific method in the development of the very first vaccine - smallpox.
-found that dairymaids have beautiful skin… smallpox 30% chance of death. If exposed to cowpox, will become immune to smallpox.
What did Louis Pasteur do?
Lived 1822-1895.
Found that life does not spontaneously arise… disproving abiogenesis (spontaneous generation)
Took fluids with diff nutrients into long neck flasks. Prevented microbes, boiled it with vigorous heat to kill all living things, let it sit for months, nothing grow bc nothing can go into the long neck. If neck broken, can grow microbes. Credit him with pasteurization.
What did Robert Koch do?
verified germ theory of disease. When you get sick, microbes get you sick.
He linked specific microbes to specific diseases.
Joseph Lister
Lived 1827-1912
first aseptic technique for use in hospitals (washing hands…)
Taxonomy order
(use pneumonic device)
Domain
Kingdoms
Phyla/ phylum/ division
Classes
Orders
Families
Genera/ genus
Species
Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup
Woese-Fox classification system
What are the 3 domains of life?
Domain bacteria
-prokaryotic cells (lack nucleus), traditional bacteria species
Domain Eukarya
-all of the organisms that display a eukaryotic cell structures. (have a defined nucleus, plants and animals..)
Domain archaea
-contains some prokaryotic cells that live in conditions that are too extreme for other forms of life.
Phylogeny
the natural relatedness between groups of living things
