CPA #9 Questions

Question 1

what are the 8 prokaryotic morphologies?

Answer 1

1. bacillus - rod
2. coccus - round
3. coccobacillus - elongated round
4. vibiro- curved rod
5. spirillum- spiral shaped; stiff
6. spirochete- spiral; flexible
7. pleomorphic- vary in shape/size
8. star

Question 2

which 2 groups form endospores?

Answer 2

clostridium & bacillus

Question 3

what is the benefit of forming endospores?

Answer 3

endospores survive in hostile environments and then can resume germination when conditions improve

Question 4

what is the difference between an endospore and a reproductive spore?

Answer 4

reproductive spores are true spores and each spore contains complete genetic material and can develop into a clone of the original

Question 5

do prokaryotes reproduce sexually or asexually?

Answer 5

asexually only

Question 6

what is the most common method of asexual reproduction?

Answer 6

binary fission

Question 7

define: viviparity

Answer 7

asexual reproduction; results in death of “mother cell” when multiple offspring are released; offspring grow simultaneously inside mother

Question 8

define: snapping division

Answer 8

asexual reproduction; occurs when a newly formed cell wall creates tension in the center of the cell

Question 9

define: binary fission

Answer 9

asexual reproduction; immediately results in two identical daughter cells

Question 10

define: budding

Answer 10

asexual reproduction; results in a smaller “daughter” cell from an outgrowth of the original cell

Question 11

what key feature do taxonomists use to classify prokaryotes/categorize them into groups of relatedness?

Answer 11

rRNA; aka “fingerprints”

Question 12

what are 3 key differences between archaea and bacteria?

Answer 12

1. archaea lack peptidoglycan
2. Archea do not have phospholipids in plasma membrane
3. archea have different initial amino acid in polypeptide chain (archea is methionine; bacteria is N-formylmethionine)

Question 13

define: extremophiles

Answer 13

require extreme conditions of temp, pH, pressure, or salinity to survive

Question 14

define: thermophiles

Answer 14

require temps above 45C

Question 15

define: hyperthermophiles

Answer 15

require temps above 80C

Question 16

define: halophiles

Answer 16

require salty conditions

Question 17

define: methanogens

Answer 17

obligate anaerobe; convert CO2, H2, and organic acids into methane gas(CH4) (major component of natural gas)

Question 18

what key effect do methanogens have on the environment?

Answer 18

convert organic waste to methane gas; aka greenhouse gas because it traps atmospheric heat which contributes to global warming

Question 19

what characteristics have been used in the past to group bacteria?

Answer 19

morphology, Gram stain, biochemical reactions

Question 20

what characteristics are used now?

Answer 20

rRNA sequences

Question 21

what are nitrogen fixers?

Answer 21

some bacteria can reduce nitrogen gas to ammonia

Question 22

why is nitrogen fixation important?

Answer 22

provides nitrogen in a useable form to other organisms

Question 23

what subclass of bacteria are low G+C?

Answer 23

Clostridia
Bacillus
Listeria
Lactobacillus
Streptococcus
Staphylococcus

Question 24

what subclass of bacteria are high G+C?

Answer 24

Corynebacterium
Mycobacterium

Question 25

what is G+C?

Answer 25

the percentage of all guanine-cytosine base pairs in a genome; useful for Gram+ bacteria

Question 26

low C+G bacteria

Answer 26

Clostridia: botulism, tetanus
Bacillus: anthrax
Listeria: contaminates dairy
Lactobacillus: produce yogurt, buttermilk, pickles
Streptococcus: strept throat
Staphylococcus: skin

Question 27

high C+G

Answer 27

Corynebacterium:
Mycobacterium:

Question 28

What diseases are caused by Archaea?

Answer 28

none