Lecture 1 - Microbial Diversity

Question 1

Why is Microbiology considered a umbrella term?

Answer 1

Because Microbes contain multiple different organisms and each one of those organisms has there own field of study

Question 2

Define a microbe

Answer 2

It is an object that requires a microscope to see it

Question 3

What are the 3 domains that we find microbes in? Which are eukaryotes or prokaryotes? What are some major differences between the two?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Why does microbe diversity equal genetic diversity?

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What kingdoms can microbes be found in?

Answer 5

Bacteria, Archaea, Protista and Fungi

Question 6

Describe Archaea. List some examples

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

Describe Protista Kingdom

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Describe Fungi

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

What are the 2 main types of fungi?

Answer 9

• Unicellular -> Yeasts

- Multicellular -> Molds

Question 10

True or False

Fungi only reproduce asexually

Answer 10

False, fungi can reproduce both asexually and sexually

Question 11

What are the most common ways fungi reproduce asexually?

Answer 11

• Spores
• Budding
• Fragmentation

Question 12

True or False

Fragmentation is the same as budding

Answer 12

False, budding is where a seedling is grown on the OG fungi and then released

Question 13

Describe the structure of mold

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

Fill in the blank

Mycorrhizae is a relationship between ________ and _________. In this relationship ______ benefit. _______ gets minerals and increased water whereas fungi get_______.

Answer 14

• Fungi
• Plant roots
• Both
• Plant
• Constant food source

Question 15

What is a key difference between endomycorrhiza and ectomycorrhiza?

Answer 15

Endomycorrhiza -> the fungi’s roots enter the plant’s roots

Question 16

True or False

All phytoplankton is algae

Answer 16

False, Algae is one example of phytoplankton but it also contains cynobacteria

Question 17

List the 4 major types of phytoplankton

Answer 17

• 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

Question 18

What are lichens? When do they form?

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

Draw a picture showing the structure of lichen

Question 20

True or False. Protozoa have a cell wall and are not photosynthetic

Answer 20

False. Protozoa do NOT have a cell wall but are not photosynthetic

Question 21

True or False. ALL protozoa are heterotroph

Answer 21

False. Euglena and Dinoflagellates are photosynthetic but are still classified as protozoa

Question 22

Describe an amoeba

Answer 22

• Protozoa that feed on other small organisms

- Have NO shape due to having no cell wall

Question 23

Ciliated Alveolates use their multiple cilia for what?

Answer 23

-Movement and getting food

Question 24

What are a roles that microbes play in our life?

Answer 24

• Protect us from pathogens
• Boost immune system
• Aids digestion
• Cleans our environment
• Nitrogen Fixation