Exam 1 SG questions - Part 1

Question 1

Explain the contributions to microbiology of the scientist discussed in lecture.

Answer 1

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek discovered the first bacteria and learned to make first microscope

Question 2

Compare the theories of spontaneous generation and biogenesis, including the scientists favoring each. Describe the Germ Theory of Disease and its importance.

Answer 2

• Spontaneous generation: things just appear: Aristotle
• Biogenesis: things come from other living things: Redi, Pasteur
• Germ Thory of Disease: hypothesizes that diseases are caused due to the action of microorganisms, the organism could be isolated, innoculated in someone, and that person would show signs/symtoms of the first disease (Louis pasteur, Joseph listor, robert koch)

Question 3

Provide the rationale for scientific names, particularly genus and species (binomial nomenclature).

Answer 3

• Genus: descriptive name, capitalized and sometimes shortened. Parent organism (last name) generic
• Species: specific within genus, unique to each organism, never capitalized. (first name)

Question 4

Describe the diversity of microorganisms by listing the major groups studied and their characteristics (Domain, Kingdoms, Genus, Species).

Answer 4

1. DOMAIN: rRNA found by Woese-Fox (archaea = no peptidoglycan, bacteria = peptidoglycan, eukaryote = nucleus)
2. KINGDOM: Based on the 3 M’s from Whittaker (MORPHOLOGY, METABOLISM, MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES: fatty acid profiles, protein differentiation, dna finger printing)
3. GENUS: organisms that share similar characteristics, generic name
4. SPECIES: similar organisms that can successfully interbreed, specific name

Question 5

List at least four beneficial activities of microorganisms.

Answer 5

1. recycling
2. bioremediation
3. insect pest control
4. sewage treatment

Question 6

Define normal flora, microbiota, microbiome and tell its importance to our health.

Answer 6

• Normal flora = microbiome = microbiota
• Healthy gut bacteria to protect and organisms that live on us or inside of gut, inside vagina
• maintain ph
• innate immune response
• argue that these are mutualistic

Question 7

Define taxonomy and explain its development up to the present. Describe binomial nomenclature.

Answer 7

• Taxonomy: classifying living things
• Present: classify using the bionomial nomentclature which is 2 names for something, a descriptive general genus and a specific species

Question 8

Describe Woese’s domain system and how each group’s characteristics differentiate it from the others, giving examples of organisms in each group. Compare that with Whittaker’s kingdom classification.

Answer 8

• Woese based off of rRNA super kingdoms (domains)
• Woese-Fox came in and said 3 mega super kingdoms (domains)
• Whittaker came up with 5 kingdoms based on 3 Ms (morphology, molecular technology)
• Linneas: observed and proposed 2 different kingdoms orginally - Eukaryotic & prokaryotic

Question 9

The phylogenetic relationship of the domains and kingdoms of life.

Answer 9

• There are 3 domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya)
• Eurkaryotes has 4 kingdoms under it (protista, fungi, plants, animals)

Question 10

Explain endosymbiotic theory and its relationship in the evolution of cells.

Answer 10

• When prokaryotes and archaea formed together to make eukaryotic cells
• For example mitochondria might have been it’s own cell at one point that was engulfed by another cell, where it there became a specialized structure within the cell