Diversity of microbes Flashcards
What were the first forms of life on earth?
Prokaryotes
What were some of the extreme conditions they adapted to?
Heat, high geologic activities, no oxygen, and high mutagenic radiation from the sun.
What are microbial mats?
Multi-layered sheets of prokaryotes that secrete a sticky substance.
What are microbial mats?
Multi-layered sheets of prokaryotes that secrete a sticky substance.
What are stromatolites?
Microbial mats with minerals precipitated out of water.
How did the first prokaryotes get their energy?
They would eat each other, or organic molecules.
What is anaerobic respiration?
Early respiration without oxygen.
When did photosynthesis begin? and through what?
About three billion years ago, through autotrophic organisms.
What happened as a result of photosynthesis?
The phototrophs would produce oxygen via photosynthesis and the environment became enriched with oxygen, paving the way for other life forms.
When did eukaryotic organisms first appear?
Between 2 and 2.5 billion years ago.
Oxygen in the atmosphere led to what?
Ozone, which protects organisms against mutagenic radiation from the sun.
What are extremophiles?
Prokaryotes that can live under extreme conditions.
How are prokaryotes studied?
They are cultured on agar in petri dishes.
Who discovered the prokaryote culture method?
Richard Koch
What are biofilms?
Bacteria that stick together and to a surface by a sticky layer of polysaccharides or proteins.
