Lecture 2B: Introduction to the Microbial World Flashcards
Impacts of Microorganisms on Human Society: Benefits and harm
agents of disease
food and agriculture
valuable products for human benefit
energy generation
environmental clean-up
Why Microbiology is the most important Biology class you will take (Besides Evolution)
- Because microbiology will make you
see the world differently - Because you can’t know what a living being is until you understand microbes.
types of metabolism
- Photoautotroph
- Photoheterotroph
- Organoheterotroph
- Lithoautotroph
- Lithoheterotroph
- Fermentation
- Anaerobic respiration
type of metabolism:
carbon source: CO2
energy source: light
example: ___
Photoautotroph
- cyanobacteria
type of metabolism:
carbon source: organic
energy source: light
Photoheterotroph
type of metabolism:
carbon source: organic
energy source: organic
example: ___
Organoheterotroph
- E. coli
type of metabolism:
carbon source: CO2
energy source: inorganic
example: ___
Lithoautotroph
- NH4
- H2
- Sulfur caves
type of metabolism:
carbon source: organic
energy source: inorganic
Lithoheterotroph
type of metabolism:
carbon source: organic
energy source: ____
example: lactic acid bacteria, yeast
fermentation
- organic
type of metabolism:
carbon source: either
energy source: either
examples:
anaerobic respiration
- Uses SO4, metals, NO3
in place of oxygen
characteristic of microorganisms according to “Because you can’t know what a living being is until you understand microbes.”
Evolutionary divergence
Metabolic diversity
Eukaryotes are bacteria houses
Like other species, they can be predators, prey, cooperators, cheaters, parasites…
Physiological capabilities of microorganisms
High acid
High pressure
High temperature
Freezing temperatures
Alkaline environments
High salt
High radiation resistance
In marine environments, microbial primary production contributes substantially to ____ . Marine microorganisms also ___ for use in the marine food web and in the process ___ to the atmosphere.
- CO2 sequestration
- recycle nutrients
- release CO2
In a broad range of terrestrial environments, microorganisms are the ___ of organic matter and release nutrients in the soil for plant growth as well as CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere. Microbial biomass and other organic matter (remnants of plants and animals) are converted to ___ over millions of years.
- key decomposers
- fossil fuels
