Fundamentals

Question 1

Important Microbiologists
Robert Hooke (1635-1703)

Answer 1

used microscope to show presence of microorganisms

Question 2

Important Microbiologists

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)

Answer 2

developed solar light microscope - see and draw bacteria for first time

Question 3

Important Microbiologists
Edward Jenner (1749-1823)

Answer 3

vaccination agains smallpox

Question 4

Important Microbiologists
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Answer 4

developed process of pasteurization

evidence against belief of spontaneous generation

Question 5

Important Microbiologists
Robert Koch (1843-1910)

Answer 5

identified specifics agents of disease

formulated kochs postulates

Question 6

Important Microbiologists
Alexander Fleming (1881-1955)

Answer 6

first antibiotic (penicillin)

Question 7

1 um in m

Answer 7

1x10-6

1 millionth of metre

Question 8

1 nm in m

Answer 8

1x10-9

1 thousand millionth of a metre

Question 9

Size of microorganisms

Answer 9

Fungi: 10-15 um
Protozoa: 10-100 um
Bacteria: 0.2-10 um
Viruses: 50-200 nm

Question 10

Unicellualar

Answer 10

single cell organism (bacteria, archaea, protozoa)

Question 11

Multicellular

Answer 11

2 or more cells (fungi)

Question 12

Acellular

Answer 12

not cells
not truly living
(viruses; prions)

Question 13

prokaryotes - what domains

Answer 13

bacteria

archaea

Question 14

eukaryotes - what domains and microorganisms

Answer 14

domains
bacteria
archaea

microorganisms
protists
fungi

Question 15

prokaryotic cells

Answer 15

no membrane boud nucleus

no membrane bound organelles (generally)

Question 16

eukaryotic cells

Answer 16

membrane bound nucleus

membrane bound internal organelles

Question 17

binomial naming

Answer 17

genus - uppercase
species - lower case
italics. if not possible underline.

Question 18

growing microorganisms

Answer 18

1. liquid or solid medium
2. difference is presence of agar in a solid medium (forms gel when cool)
3. medium contains all nutrients needed to support microorganisms growth
4. growth media may be defined, undefined, complex, selective or differential.
5. sterilise medium before adding microorganisms
6. incubate at appropriate temperature with correct gaseous environment

Question 19

defined medium

Answer 19

chemical composition known precisely

Question 20

undefined medium

Answer 20

chemical composition not known precisely. contains natural product e.g. blood

Question 21

selective medium

Answer 21

composition favours growth of required organisms and inhibits growth of others

Question 22

differential medium

Answer 22

contains component which allows one organisms to be easily recognised when it grows in mixed culture

Question 23

growth on liquid vs solid medium

Answer 23

solid - colonies

liquid - cloudy

Question 24

growing microorganisms on solid media

Answer 24

1. assume each colony derived from single cell (colony forming unit cfu)
2. aim to obtain clearly separated colonies for counting or isolation
3. isolate by selecting single separate colony. reculture to ensure no contaminants
4. can change components of media - selective, inhibit, differentiate

Question 25

solid media

streak plate

Answer 25

1. sterile loop loaded with sample
2. make a streak
3. can split plate into different sectors. must resterilise before adding another microorganism

Question 26

solid media

spread plate

Answer 26

1. pipette liquid culture onto surface of agar plate

2. sterile spreader - spread culture across plate

Question 27

solid media

pour plate

Answer 27

1. combine liquid culture with liquid agar

2. needs care. agar solidifies 35-40C which may kill some microbes