Lecture 1 - Microbial Diversity Flashcards
Why is Microbiology considered a umbrella term?
Because Microbes contain multiple different organisms and each one of those organisms has there own field of study
Define a microbe
It is an object that requires a microscope to see it
What are the 3 domains that we find microbes in? Which are eukaryotes or prokaryotes? What are some major differences between the two?
3 domains -> Eukaryotic, Bacteria, and Archaea
*Bacteria and Archaea are COMPLETELY made up of microbes
Eukaryotes -> Fungi and Protozoa
Prokaryotes -> Bacteria and Archaea
Eukaryotes - Membrane-bound organelles, DNA is housed in the nucleus and large and complex
Prokaryotes- Small and no nucleus
Why does microbe diversity equal genetic diversity?
4 main points:
- Microbes determine the gene that gets expressed
- Bacteria and Archaea cannot be recreated in the lab but we do know their gene sequence
- All of the genes found within microbes we have no idea of their function
- We have found bacteria that are genetically different than our know bacteria
Big Picture:
Diffierent micrboes -> Different genes -> Different proteins -> Different biochemical reactions -> Different Biological functions through the body
What kingdoms can microbes be found in?
Bacteria, Archaea, Protista and Fungi
Describe Archaea. List some examples
- Not well studied due to their living environments
- While they look like bacteria they contain different proteins and sugar that make up their cell walls and membranes
- The way that they express genes is similar to the method that eukaryotes use
Examples:
- Methanogen -> produce methane gas
- Halophiles -> live-in super salty places
- Thermophiles -> live-in super hot places
- Psychrophiles -> live-in super cold places
Describe Protista Kingdom
3 different categories that they could be a part of:
- Algae -> plant-like and are multi or unicellular as well as autotrophs
- Amoebas -> animal-like, unicellular, heterotrophs and have the ability to move
- Slime molds -> fungus-like and are heterotrophs that reproduce via spores
Describe Fungi
- Do NOT do photosynthesis
- Cell walls are made of chitin
- Cell membrane is made up of ergosterol and is NOT found in plants or animals
What are the 2 main types of fungi?
- Unicellular -> Yeasts
- Multicellular -> Molds
True or False
Fungi only reproduce asexually
False, fungi can reproduce both asexually and sexually
What are the most common ways fungi reproduce asexually?
- Spores
- Budding
- Fragmentation
True or False
Fragmentation is the same as budding
False, budding is where a seedling is grown on the OG fungi and then released
Describe the structure of mold
- Made up of hyphae which then create mycelium (network of hyphae)
- 2 types of hyphae
- Septate -> multiple cells that are separated by septa and have their own cytoplasm
- Coenocytic -> one long cell
Fill in the blank
Mycorrhizae is a relationship between ________ and _________. In this relationship ______ benefit. _______ gets minerals and increased water whereas fungi get_______.
- Fungi
- Plant roots
- Both
- Plant
- Constant food source
What is a key difference between endomycorrhiza and ectomycorrhiza?
Endomycorrhiza -> the fungi’s roots enter the plant’s roots
True or False
All phytoplankton is algae
False, Algae is one example of phytoplankton but it also contains cynobacteria
List the 4 major types of phytoplankton
- Algae
- Diatoms ->make up 20% of the world’s O2, the cell wall is made of glass
- Dinoflagellates -> has 2 flagella for movement and food, causes HARMFUL algae blooms
- Cyanobacteria -> caused the great oxygenation event, share a common ancestor with chloroplast
- Prochlorococcus
- Synechococcus
What are lichens? When do they form?
- Lichens are produced when a certain type of algae and fungi meet
- They often form on rocks and tree bark but are really found everywhere
- They produce organic acids that can break down rocks
- Super slow cell growth
Draw a picture showing the structure of lichen
True or False. Protozoa have a cell wall and are not photosynthetic
False. Protozoa do NOT have a cell wall but are not photosynthetic
True or False. ALL protozoa are heterotroph
False. Euglena and Dinoflagellates are photosynthetic but are still classified as protozoa
Describe an amoeba
- Protozoa that feed on other small organisms
- Have NO shape due to having no cell wall
Ciliated Alveolates use their multiple cilia for what?
-Movement and getting food
What are a roles that microbes play in our life?
- Protect us from pathogens
- Boost immune system
- Aids digestion
- Cleans our environment
- Nitrogen Fixation
