Intro to Micro Flashcards
What is micro-biology?
the study of microorganisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye
Why is it important?
Normal flora, Pathogens in things like…
Health
Nature
Agriculture
Industry
Normal flora
microorganisms that typically live on or in the body
Pathogens
disease causing microorganisms
Health
• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Parasites
Nature
• Food sources
• Water sources
• Environmental cleanup
Agriculture
•Crops
•Livestock
Industry
•Foods
•Medicines
Classification of Microorganisms
Prokaryotic, Eukaryotic, Acellular
Bacteria & Archaea
Prokaryotic
Algae, Fungi & Protozoa
Eukaryotic
Viruses
Acellular
Prokaryotic
No internal membrane bound structures
Eukaryotic
Membrane-bound organelles and nucleus
Acellular
Without a cell
Binomial nomenclature
• two-word naming system for identifying organisms by genus and specific epithet
• ex. Homo sapiens or H. sapiens
Strain
subtypes within a species which are almost genetically identical, but have different
attributes
• ex. E. coli
Bacteria
Prokaryotic
• Most are harmless
Archaea
Prokaryotic
•Live in extreme environments
Algae
Eukaryotic
• Profist: not plant, animal, or fungi
• Photosynthetic
• Cell wall made of cellulose
Protozoa
Eukaryotic
• Profist: not plant, animal, or fungi
• Some use cilia (hair-like) or flagella
(whip-like) structures to move
• Some are parasitic
• Parasitology - the study of parasites
Fungi
Mycology - the study of fungi
Eukaryotic
• Cell wall made of chitin
• Multicellular fungi
• Ex. Mushrooms or mold
• Unicellular fungi
• Ex. Yeast
Viruses
Acellular
• Protein + DNA or RNA
• After incorporation into a cell, can multiply and infect host
Immunology
Immunity - the body’s ability to combat infection
Immunization - to produce immunity through exposure to altered, non-disease causing organisms